Martin Singer, the Tuohy Family, and Their Petition for a Conservatory Action to Save Their Son Sean and Leigh Ann Oher

In a statement issued to NPR by Martin Singer, the Tuohy family’s attorney, Singer said the Tuohys are “heartbroken over these events” and that the idea of the family ever profiting from Oher is “transparently ridiculous.”

The family said that Oher’s claims against them in the petition are a ruse to get almost 15 million dollars from them. Oher, who was the subject of the film The Blind Side, said that the Tuohy family set up a control over him instead of legally adopting him.

“The notion that a couple worth hundreds of millions of dollars would connive to withhold a few thousand dollars in profit participation payments from anyone – let alone from someone they loved as a son – defies belief,” Singer said in his statement.

The family’s attorney said the Tuohys hope that Oher “comes to regret his recent decisions” and that they can hopefully reconcile with him — emphasizing how much they still deeply care for Oher.

“After this time, [the Tuohys]) will fight this lawsuit and stand up for their good names,” Singer said.

Attorneys representing Oher did not immediately respond to NPR’s request for comment. One of Oher’s attorneys stated that justice will be served in court.

During a news conference in Memphis this week, one of the Tuohys’ attorneys — Randall Fishman — said the couple intends to enter into a legal agreement to end the nearly 20-year conservatorship.

The 2004 filing claims that Oher wanted Sean andLeigh Anne Tuohy to be his legal guardians up until he turned 25 or until he was terminated by a court.

Oher, who spoke with Mississippi Public Broadcasting Monday about his new book — When Your Back’s Against the Wall — did not address the petition in his interview. He was briefly positive about the Tuohys.

When I moved in with the Tuohy family after graduating high school, they helped me through some difficult times, but I am grateful that they allowed me to stay. But you have to understand … what it took for me to get to that point,” Oher told MPB.

The 63-year-old restauranteur and sports commentator told the Memphis newspaper he first heard the news of Oher’s petition after a friend sent him an article from ESPN, which first reported the story.

The Blind Side, Michael Lewis, and Your Family’s Investments In The Lottery: A Brief History of Tuohy’s Business During the First Three Years

The Blind Side film was based on a book by Michael Lewis, and his family received half of its profits, according to Tuohy. Tuohy said each member of the family, including Oher, received an equal share of about $14,000.

We never asked for money. My money is well-documented; you can look up how much I sold my company for,” Tuohy told the newspaper.