Carmen Thomas Sues Newly Found Sisters Over $28M Inheritance After 23andMe DNA Discovery

Carmen Thomas, 28, has sued two sisters she discovered through a 23andMe DNA test, demanding a share of their $28.8 million malpractice settlement.

Thomas took a 23andMe home DNA test in February 2023 and learned she was biologically related to Kali and Abigail Brown, whose father, Joe Brown, died in 2018 from an undiagnosed aortic aneurysm.

Joe, 43, was admitted to Salem Hospital with severe abdominal, chest, and back pain. After struggling for nearly a full day, doctors eventually diagnosed an aneurysm, but the delay proved fatal and he died the next day.

Kali, Abigail, and their mother, Kristin Brown, later sued the hospital, claiming medical negligence and delayed diagnosis cost Joe his life. In April 2023, a jury awarded the family $28.8 million.

One month before the verdict, Thomas had contacted Kali to introduce herself as their newly discovered half sister. After learning of the settlement, Thomas filed a lawsuit against the Browns seeking a portion of the award.

In her filing, Thomas highlighted what she described as a happy reunion, pointing to photos taken during their initial meeting. However, court documents from the Browns state that the sisters were “very upset and hesitant” to meet her but did so out of kindness.

According to the family’s legal response, Thomas quickly became “assertive and possessive,” allegedly demanding money for gas, food, and alcohol, and even threatening self-harm if they did not respond to her messages.

Their attorney, Joseph Lipchitz, wrote that Thomas attempted to “prey on the family financially and emotionally,” and said her effort to freeze the family’s assets “should be seen as an affront to the Court.”

The family said they were shocked by the lawsuit and noted they eventually cut off contact in early April. They also raised doubts about the claimed biological connection, stating that Thomas’ mother never came forward to confirm a relationship with Joe Brown.

Lipchitz said the case was ultimately resolved in favor of the Brown family, partly because Thomas’ claim came too long after Joe’s death.

This case emerges as former DNA-testing giant 23andMe faces its own turmoil after filing for bankruptcy in March, raising concerns about data protection for its 15 million users.