Overview
- The Mahoney Law Firm and the Simon Law Firm, which moved to withdraw Monday in St. Louis federal court, said a breakdown in their relationship with Annie Altman made continued work impracticable.
- The firms cited professional and confidential reasons and said she is searching for new counsel, with a judge’s permission still needed before they can leave the case.
- Annie Altman alleges her brother sexually abused and raped her from 1997 to 2006 at their home in Clayton, Missouri, beginning when she was three and he was 12.
- Sam Altman denies the claims and has a defamation countersuit seeking $1, saying she made false posts on social media after the family rejected what he called an extortionate demand for money.
- A judge earlier dismissed parts of her first complaint as late but allowed refiling under Missouri’s childhood sexual abuse law, and a lawyer switch now could slow evidence gathering and push back hearings.