The Tuohy family from the blockbuster book and film “The Blind Side” continues to be adamant that they did not swindle Michael Oher.
Oher filed a lawsuit last month alleging that Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy duped him into signing a conservatorship agreement in place of formal adoption, and used the arrangement to make themself millions in proceeds from the movie.
In a legal filing this week in Shelby County Probate Court obtained by People, the Tuohy family denies these claims.
“There was never an intent to adopt him,” the Tuohy family’s latest filing said, and denied that referring to Oher as a part of their family caused “irreparable harm” to the ex-NFL player.
Additionally, the Tuohys’ filing claimed that when they referred to Oher as their son that it was “in the colloquial sense and they have never intended that reference to be viewed with legal implication.”
“In fact, they have always felt that the Petitioner was like a son and have used that on occasion but not in a legal sense,” the filing added.
In response to the filing, Oher’s attorney, Don Barrett, told People in a statement, “We look forward to Mike finally getting his day in court, where we are confident that the truth will prevail.”
In their legal filing, the Tuohy family also reiterated what they have said before — that Oher received an equal cut to proceeds from “The Blindside” as Sean, Leigh Anne and their two children.
“It is important to note that [Oher’s] share was paid to [the Tuohys] who paid the taxes due on these funds for some period of time but still cut a check for a full share (20%) to [Oher],” the Tuohys’ filing said.
Oher played left tackle at Ole Miss, which was the alma mater of Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy.
A first-round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, Oher had an eight-year NFL career with the Ravens, Titans and Panthers.
It was previously reported that Oher could have ended the conservatorship at any time he wished after turning 18 years old.
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