US Court Dismisses Lawsuit Against OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Filed by Sister
A US federal court dismissed a lawsuit alleging childhood sexual abuse filed against OpenAI CEO Sam Altman by his sister, citing her refusal to attend ordered medical exams.
A US federal court dismissed on Tuesday a lawsuit filed by Annie Altman against her brother, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, alleging childhood sexual abuse. Judge Zachary Bluestone did not rule on the merits of the allegations, but rather dismissed the case after Annie repeatedly refused to attend an independent medical examination despite warnings.
Case Dismissal and Background
Judge Bluestone wrote that because Annie continued to violate discovery obligations and brought the proceedings to a dead end through her refusal, the court had no alternative but to dismiss the claims with prejudice. Despite accommodations and multiple opportunities, she failed to appear for the examination on three separate dates and stalled the progression of the lawsuit.
The initial lawsuit was filed on January 6, 2025, in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. Annie alleged that her brother repeatedly abused her at the family home between 1997 and 2006. Sam Altman, now 41, vehemently denied the accusations from the outset.
Family Response and Legal Status
Sam, his mother, and two younger siblings released a joint statement calling the allegations entirely false and stating that Annie struggles with mental health issues while refusing standard treatment. The family emphasized their ongoing financial support, noting they cover her monthly living expenses and rent.
"My sister has filed a lawsuit against me. Here is a statement from my mom, brothers, and me," Sam Altman posted on social media following the initial filing.
In March, Judge Bluestone ruled that the original claims of sexual assault and battery were time-barred by the statute of limitations. However, he allowed Annie to file an amended complaint under a Missouri statute regarding childhood sexual abuse, which has now been dismissed. Concurrently, the judge approved Sam Altman's request to withdraw a countersuit for defamation against his sister.
