OpenAI CEO Altman Seeks Dismissal of Sister's Punitive Damages Claims in Sexual Abuse Lawsuit
Sam Altman Seeks Dismissal of Punitive Damages Claims in Sister's Civil Lawsuit
Sam Altman, the co-founder and chief executive of OpenAI, has filed a motion in St. Louis federal court seeking the dismissal of punitive damages claims in his sister's civil lawsuit. Annie Altman, Sam Altman's sister, accused him of repeated sexual abuse more than two decades ago, an accusation he denies. The alleged abuse occurred between 1997 and 2006 at the family home in suburban Clayton, Missouri, starting when Annie Altman was three years old and Sam Altman was 12 years old.
In a Wednesday night filing, Sam Altman argued that Missouri's child sexual abuse statute does not authorize punitive damages for Annie Altman's claims. Instead, he said, she is limited to "damages for injury or illness" caused by childhood sexual abuse. He also claimed that punitive damages are unavailable for conduct he allegedly committed as a child. Sam Altman renewed his request to dismiss the lawsuit altogether.
Annie Altman's lawyers did not immediately respond to requests for comment after business hours. The lawsuit, which was filed in January 2025, alleges that Sam Altman sexually abused and raped his sister between 1997 and 2006. Sam Altman, now 40 years old, denies the allegations and has countersued his sister for defamation over her social media posts.
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Comparison of Claims
| Claim | Annie Altman's Allegations | Sam Altman's Counterclaims |
|---|---|---|
| Duration of Abuse | 1997-2006 | None |
| Age of Victim | 3-18 years old | None |
| Type of Abuse | Sexual abuse and rape | Defamation through social media posts |
| Financial Support | Extortionate demand for greater financial support | Seeking $1 in damages |
Sam Altman is also facing a scheduled trial on April 27 in a separate lawsuit filed by fellow billionaire Elon Musk. Musk's lawsuit, which has a total value of over $134 billion, accuses OpenAI of departing from its mission to develop AI to benefit humanity and defrauding him into donating. Microsoft, an OpenAI partner, is also a defendant in the lawsuit.
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