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Stanford and the family of Katie Meyer have settled a wrongful death lawsuit concerning the former soccer star’s death by suicide in 2022.
Stanford and Meyer’s family issued a joint statement Monday announcing the settlement. Meyer’s family filed the lawsuit in November 2022, eight months after Meyer’s death. It stated that “the actions that led to the death of Katie Meyer began and ended with Stanford University.”
What the lawsuit stated
Per the lawsuit, Meyer faced disciplinary action from the university at the time of her death due to an allegation that she spilled coffee on a football player who was accused of sexually assaulting one of her teammates.
The lawsuit stated that a disciplinary letter from Stanford’s office of community standards to Meyer “contained threatening language regarding sanctions and potential ‘removal from the university.'” Per the lawsuit, Meyer received the letter on the night of her death.
At the time, Stanford spokesperson Dee Mostofi disputed the lawsuit’s claim that the university was responsible for Meyer’s death in statements to media.
Settlement includes initiatives honoring Meyer at Stanford
Monday’s announcement did not disclose the terms of the settlement, but it did announce initiatives put in place in Meyer’s honor.
“To honor Katie, Stanford will collaborate with Katie’s family to launch an initiative focused on the mental health and well-being of student-athletes at the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute,” the statement reads. “Stanford Athletics will establish the Katie Meyer Leadership Award to be given to an exceptional Stanford student-athlete each year.”
The statement also announced that Stanford will amend its disciplinary procedures to meet a California Law named after Meyer requiring that students in the the state’s public college system have access to an independent adviser of their choice when facing a disciplinary hearing. Stanford is private and not subject to the law.
“In addition, Stanford will adopt the principles of Katie Meyer’s Law to provide support to students in its OCS disciplinary process,” the statement reads.
Stanford women’s soccer will retire Meyer’s No. 19, per the agreement.
Meyer was the starting goaltender on the 2019 Stanford team that won the NCAA championship. She came up with critical saves in a penalty shootout to secure Stanford’s win over North Carolina in the title game.
