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Judge Makes a Decision Regarding ‘The Blind Sides’ Michael Oher’s Conservatorship

Ryan Brennan
Tennessee Judge Terminates Conservatorship Between Michael Oher and the Tuohy Family

via Instagram (@michaeloher)

Michael Oher and his legal team are celebrating a small win. On Friday (September 29), a Tennessee judge signed an order to end the conservatorship agreement between Oher and his ‘adoptive parents,’ Sean Tuohy and Leigh Anne Tuohy – meaning they no longer have any control over the 37-year-old.

The order was signed by Shelby County Probate Court Judge Kathleen Gomes and officially brings an end to a conservatorship that Oher never knew he signed until earlier this year. An attorney for Oher says they are ‘pleased with the proceedings [Friday] morning,’ but they understand their fight is not yet over. 

The conservatorship was originally signed in 2004 when Oher was 18 years old. He was living with the Tuohy family at the time and was being recruited by colleges to play football. While Oher thought the family was adopting him, the family was placing him in a conservatorship to ensure he attended college. 

RELATED: Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy Deny Michael Oher’s Allegations in New Legal Filing

While the conservatorship has now come to an end, the legal battle between Michael Oher and the Tuohy family continues. Judge Kathleen Gomes isn’t dismissing the case because there are still a number of allegations made by Oher (and denied by the Tuohy family) that they took advantage of Oher financially. 

In the petition, which was filed in a Tennessee court on August 14, Michael alleges that the Tuohy family used his name, image, and likeness to enrich themselves financially and lied to him about the nature of their agreement – especially since conservatorships are generally reserved for those who are disabled. 

“I cannot believe it got done,” Gomes said of the conservatorship – adding that she was shocked the agreement was reached, given that Michael Oher was over the age of 18 and not physically or mentally disabled. She says the conservatorship should’ve ended a long time ago, so this was a long time coming.

Both Oher and the Tuohy family were present on Friday morning, but declined to speak – both sides were in agreement that the conservatorship should come to an end. It took 19 years, but Michael and his legal team can finally celebrate the end of that conservatorship. It’ll have to be a short celebration, though.

What Other Allegations Did Michael Oher Make About the Tuohy Family?

When Michael Oher filed his petition on August 14, he had three primary requests. First, he wanted the conservatorship ended – which was a success. Second, he wanted a ‘full accounting of the money earned off his name and story.’ Third and finally, he wanted ‘to be paid what he is due, with interest.’

During the 19-year conservatorship, Oher alleged that the Tuohy family falsely represented themselves as his adoptive parents and kept him in the dark regarding financial dealings tied to his name, image, and likeness – including his story being told in a 2009 film (The Blind Side), which he says he wasn’t paid for.

On the flip side, the Tuohy family is calling Oher’s claims ‘outlandish’ ‘hurtful,’ ‘absurd,’ and part of a ‘shakedown’ to tarnish their name. They say there was never an intent to adopt him, but they did view him and treat him like a son. They also say the conservatorship was strictly used to ensure he got into college. 

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Quinton Aaron, Who Portrayed Michael Oher in ‘The Blind Side,’ Opens Up About Oher-Tuohy Legal Battle and Defends Sandra Bullock 

In fact, the Tuohy family is saying that Michael Oher lied about not knowing of the conservatorship. While he says he found out about the agreement in February, the Tuohys say he wrote about the agreement in his 2011 memoir – alleging that he was well-aware that Sean and Leigh Anne were his conservators.

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