Woman sues author Amy Griffin over memoir 'The Tell'

Lawsuit claims Griffin's book stole stories of sexual abuse from the plaintiff's own experiences.

Published on Mar. 7, 2026

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A woman has filed a lawsuit against author Amy Griffin, claiming that Griffin's bestselling 2025 memoir 'The Tell' stole descriptions of childhood sexual abuse from the plaintiff's own experiences. The lawsuit alleges that the details in Griffin's book match the plaintiff's own assaults by a teacher, and that Griffin had reason to know about the abuse. Griffin's attorney has called the suit 'absurd' and 'meritless'.

Why it matters

This case raises questions about the line between memoir and fiction, as well as the ethical responsibilities of authors when drawing from real-life experiences. It also highlights the challenges survivors of sexual abuse can face in having their stories told, especially when a high-profile book appears to mirror their own trauma.

The details

The plaintiff, who is identified only as Jane Doe in the lawsuit, says the descriptions of childhood sexual abuse in Griffin's memoir 'The Tell' match her own experiences of being assaulted by a teacher at a school dance and in a school bathroom. The lawsuit alleges that Griffin had reason to know about the plaintiff's abuse, and that 'The Tell' constitutes an 'intrusion, invasion of privacy, publication of private facts, negligence and infliction of emotional distress.' It seeks damages to be determined at trial.

  • The lawsuit was filed on Wednesday, March 7, 2026 in Los Angeles Superior Court.
  • Griffin's memoir 'The Tell' was published a year ago, in 2025.

The players

Amy Griffin

The author of the bestselling 2025 memoir 'The Tell', which is at the center of the lawsuit.

Jane Doe

The plaintiff in the lawsuit, who claims that Griffin's memoir stole details from her own experiences of childhood sexual abuse.

Thomas A. Clare

The attorney representing Amy Griffin, who has called the lawsuit 'absurd' and 'meritless'.

Danielle Rhoades Ha

A spokeswoman for The New York Times, which published a story in September raising questions about the reliability of the memories in 'The Tell'.

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What they’re saying

“We look forward to exposing these meritless claims in court, as well as the deeply flawed New York Times reporting that is at the center of it.”

— Thomas A. Clare, Attorney for Amy Griffin (Email statement)

“We're confident in the accuracy of our reporting.”

— Danielle Rhoades Ha, Spokeswoman for The New York Times (Response to statement)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide whether to allow the lawsuit to proceed to trial.

The takeaway

This case highlights the complex ethical issues that can arise when authors draw from real-life experiences in their memoirs, and the challenges survivors of abuse can face in having their stories told on their own terms.