In a high-profile legal development tied to one of the technology industry’s most prominent leaders, OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman has secured a full dismissal of a sexual abuse lawsuit filed against him by his sister, Ann Altman, who brought decades-old allegations forward earlier this year. The case, which was filed in January 2025 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, was thrown out with prejudice by District Judge Zachary Bluestone after Ann Altman repeatedly refused to comply with a court order requiring her to attend an independent medical examination – a requirement she was explicitly warned would result in dismissal if she failed to appear.
Ann Altman’s accusations dated back more than 20 years, claiming that Sam Altman, her older brother, had sexually abused her repeatedly between 1997 and 2006. She amended her claim to allege the abuse began when she was just three years old and Sam Altman was 12. Sam Altman has consistently and categorically denied all of these allegations.
In a joint statement released shortly after the lawsuit was filed, Sam Altman, his mother, and his two other brothers shared their side of the situation, noting that Ann Altman has long struggled with mental health challenges. The family confirmed that they have provided ongoing financial support to Ann for years, covering her monthly living costs, rent, and medical bills, while also continuously attempting to help her access appropriate mental health care. The family’s statement added that Ann’s accusations against Sam have shifted dramatically multiple times over the course of their public dispute, and that every claim she has made is “utterly untrue”. The family also asserted that the allegations emerged amid ongoing demands from Ann for increased financial support from the family.
In his formal written order dismissing the case, Judge Bluestone outlined that court officials had granted Ann Altman multiple accommodations and three separate opportunities to complete the required independent medical examination. Despite these repeated chances, she failed to appear for any of the scheduled appointments, and ultimately “failed to meaningfully prosecute her case”, the judge wrote. “Because Annie has continued to violate her discovery obligations and forced this case to a halt through her intransigence, the Court has run out of options and, thus, dismisses her claims with prejudice,” Bluestone’s order read. A dismissal with prejudice means Ann Altman cannot refile the same lawsuit against Sam Altman in the future.
Sam Altman is one of the most recognizable figures in global artificial intelligence, best known as the co-founder and CEO of OpenAI, the research and deployment company that launched the widely popular ChatGPT chatbot in 2022. ChatGPT’s launch sparked a global AI boom that has reshaped technology investment, business strategy, and public discourse around artificial intelligence.
For individuals impacted by sexual abuse issues discussed in this report, support resources are available through the BBC Action Line.