The key facts
- Judge Zachary Bluestone dismissed Ann Altman's lawsuit with prejudice — refiling is impossible
- Reason: failure to appear for three independent medical examinations and 'deliberate delay' of the case
- Sam Altman's counterclaims were dismissed without prejudice, and his request for attorney fees was denied
Lawsuit Dismissed with Prejudice
Federal judge Zachary Bluestone of the US District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri on Monday dismissed the civil lawsuit by Ann Altman, sister of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who accused him of repeated sexual abuse more than two decades ago. The ruling was made 'with prejudice,' which precludes refiling the lawsuit. Sam Altman denies the accusations.
Reason — Disruption of the Legal Process
According to the judge, the plaintiff continued to violate her discovery obligations and brought the proceedings to a halt through 'stubbornness,' so 'the court has run out of options.' She failed to appear three times for the court-ordered independent medical examination, despite accommodations granted: the presence of a female nurse, the option to undergo the examination in Boston instead of St. Louis, and the ability to knit during the procedure. The court had previously warned repeatedly that failure to appear would result in dismissal of the lawsuit with prejudice.
Assessment of Conduct and Counterclaims
Bluestone deemed the plaintiff's conduct 'systematic, intentional delay,' and her explanations and justifications implausible. At the same time, the court granted Sam Altman's request to dismiss his counterclaims without prejudice, but denied him reimbursement of attorney fees, noting that the dismissal of the lawsuit itself 'is a sufficient sanction.'
