In their September 2023 response, Sean and Leigh Anne said they loved Michael and provided him with shelter, food, clothing and a car, but that they “never intended” or took the steps to adopt him, according to court documents obtained by NBC News. And though the pair called him son “on occasion,” the documents continued, they noted this was “not in a legal sense.”
As for the conservatorship, Sean and Leigh Anne argued Michael was “fully aware” of it and that it was opened so he could play college football.
“The NCAA made it clear that the only way he could attend the Ole Miss [was] if he was part of the Tuohy family in some fashion,” their response read. “Conservatorship was the tool chosen to accomplish this goal.”
Sean and Leigh Anne also said in their response that they stood “ready, willing and able to terminate the conservatorship” and that Michael had “never made any request” to end it before.
In terms of money made from The Blind Side, Sean and Leigh Anne said they received “something less than $225,000” and that “all funds received from the movie The Blind Side have been equally divided among the Respondents, their two children and the Petitioner.” They also insisted in the documents that they “have always acted in the best interest” of Michael.
An attorney for Michael told NBC News at the time, “We look forward to Mike finally getting his day in court, where we are confident that the truth will prevail.”
