Leigh Ann Tuohy and The Blind Side: A Probate Court Action Against Michael Lewis, the Movie “The Blind Side” and Making It Happen

Tuohy told the local Memphis newspaper that Michael Lewis, the author of the book that The Blind Side film is based on, gave his family half of the share of profits from the book — saying that everybody in the Tuohy family got an equal share, including Michael, of about $14,000 each.

The 37-year-old former NFL offensive lineman — who played for both the Baltimore Ravens and the Carolina Panthers — filed a petition Monday asking the Shelby County, Tenn., probate court for the established conservatorship by the Tuohys to be dissolved.

Tuohy said that Oher would be willing to end his work if he wanted to. He told The Daily Memphian that he noticed a difference between Oher and the Tuohys over a year and a half ago.

The sports commentator told The Daily Memphian that he first heard about the lawsuit from a friend of his who sent him the article.

The conservatorship at the center of the petition filed Monday, Tuohy said, had nothing to do with the movie, telling The Daily Memphian it was a way to satisfy the NCAA when it appeared Oher might play football at the University of Mississippi.

Tuohy said he sat Michael down and told him, “If you’re planning to go to Ole Miss — or even considering Ole Miss — we think you have to be part of the family. This would be legal.

“We’re devastated. Tuohy thought we would make money off of any of our children. “But we’re going to love Michael at 37 just like we loved him at 16.”

According to the petition, what he signed was not the same as the equivalent of adoption papers.

NPR’s multiple requests for comment from both Leigh Anne Tuohy and the Tuohy family’s nonprofit organization, Making It Happen, were not immediately returned.

Michael and the Tuohys: When Your Back’s Against the Wall, Attorneys for Mike Oher Revisited

Attorneys for Oher did not immediately reply to NPR’s request. The attorneys for Oher think justice will be served in court, according to a statement from Don Barrett.

Sean andLeigh Anne Tuohy are angrily refuting claims they earned millions and profited off the name, image and likeness of former NFL offensive lineman Michael Oher.

“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.

The Tuohys will fight this lawsuit and defend their good names, Singer said.

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. However, he did briefly speak positively about the Tuohys.

The Tuohy family, who I was fortunate to stay with my senior year there, helped me through some of the difficult times I went through. But you have to understand … what it took for me to get to that point,” Oher told MPB.