A US federal judge has dismissed a civil lawsuit filed against OpenAI CEO Sam Altman by his sister, Ann Altman, who accused him of sexually abusing her during their childhood. The court dismissed the case with prejudice on October 20, 2026, after Ann Altman repeatedly failed to attend a court-ordered independent medical examination despite warnings that her noncompliance could result in dismissal.
US District Judge Zachary Bluestone ruled that Ann Altman had failed to meet her legal obligations during the proceedings, including missing three scheduled medical examinations. The dismissal prevents her from bringing the same claims again in the same court, although the ruling did not determine whether the underlying allegations were true.
Judge Cites Repeated Failure to Attend Medical Examination
According to court records, Judge Bluestone found that Ann Altman had been given multiple opportunities and accommodations to complete the required examination. These included the option to attend an appointment in Boston rather than St. Louis and the presence of a female nurse during the procedure.
Despite these arrangements, she did not attend the examinations, leading the court to conclude that she had failed to meaningfully pursue her case. Bluestone described her repeated noncompliance as intentional delays that prevented the proceedings from advancing.
The judge dismissed her claims with prejudice, citing violations of discovery obligations and previous court orders. He also denied Sam Altman’s request for reimbursement of legal fees, finding that dismissal was a sufficient sanction.
Lawsuit Alleged Abuse Between 1997 and 2006
Ann Altman originally filed the lawsuit on January 6, 2025, in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. She alleged that her older brother sexually abused her repeatedly between 1997 and 2006 at their family home in Clayton, Missouri.
According to the complaint, the alleged abuse began when Ann was three years old and Sam was 12, with some alleged incidents occurring after he reached adulthood. Sam Altman has consistently denied the accusations.
In a joint statement issued when the lawsuit was filed, Sam Altman, his mother, and his two brothers rejected the allegations. The family also expressed concerns about Ann’s wellbeing and said they had provided financial assistance, including monthly payments and support for housing, expenses, and medical care.
The family claimed that Ann’s allegations had changed over time and followed disagreements about requests for additional financial support. These statements represent the family’s account, which Ann’s lawsuit disputed.
Former Attorney Maintains Support for Ann Altman
Following the dismissal, Santos Perez, who previously represented Ann Altman before withdrawing from the case earlier in October, said he continued to believe her allegations. However, he stated that he was no longer authorized to comment on the proceedings.
Lawyers representing both parties did not immediately respond to requests for comment following the ruling, according to Reuters.
Sam Altman co-founded OpenAI, the artificial intelligence company behind ChatGPT, which launched publicly in November 2022. He currently serves as the company’s chief executive.
Featured image credits: Wikimedia Commons
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