Why is Michael Oher suing his adoptive family?

Former American football offensive tackle Michael Oher filed a lawsuit against his adoptive family in August 2023.

The suit alleged  that his adoptive parents Leigh Ann and Sean Tuohy never actually adopted him, but instead created a conservatorship which gave them legal authority to make business deals in his name.

Oher realised he was never formally adopted by Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy in February 2023, according to the lawsuit, and claims he was duped into signing a conservatorship after his 18th birthday.

Michael Oher’s legal action requested that the court terminate the Tuohys’ conservatorship and issue an injunction prohibiting them from utilising his name and likeness.

It also requested a thorough accounting of the money gained by the Tuohys using Oher’s name, as well as his portion of earnings and other compensatory and punitive penalties.

Michael Oher’s attorney J. Gerard Stranch IV told ESPN that his client was “devastated” when he discovered the true nature of the conservatorship.

“Mike didn’t grow up with a stable family life,” he said. “When the Tuohy family told Mike they loved him and wanted to adopt him, it filled a void that had been with him his entire life. Discovering that he wasn’t actually adopted devastated Mike and wounded him deeply.”