The wrongful death suit filed by the parents of Katie Meyer against Stanford University has been resolved, the school announced Monday, Jan. 26, in a joint statement from the school and Katie’s family.
Meyer, who led the Stanford women’s soccer team to a national championship in 2019, died by suicide on March 1, 2022.
Meyer, 22 at the time of her death, was found in her dorm at Stanford.
Meyer’s parents sued Stanford in November 2022. The lawsuit, filed with the Santa Clara County Superior Court of California, was scheduled to go to trial later this year.
Meyer’s parents said the school was responsible for their daughter’s death from a disciplinary matter stemming from Katie Meyer either intentionally or accidentally spilling coffee on one of Stanford’s football players.
“Stanford and the family of Katie Meyer are pleased to have reached a resolution in the lawsuit that was filed against the university following Katie’s tragic death in 2022,’’ the university said in a statement issued Monday.
“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 Human Performance Alliance. Stanford Athletics will establish the Katie Meyer Leadership Award to be given to an exceptional Stanford student-athlete each year. More information on both the initiative at Wu Tsai and the Leadership Award will be provided later this year.’’
Stanford also said it would adopt the principles of Katie Meyer’s Law to provide support to students in its Office of Community disciplinary process. Also, the jersey number worn by Katie while she played soccer at Stanford, #19, will be retired in honor of the impact Katie had on Stanford women’s soccer, according to the statement.
“While Katie’s passing remains devastating and tragic, the memory of her accomplishments and the uplifting influence she had on those who knew her lives on,’ the university said. “Stanford and the Meyer family believe that working together on these initiatives will both honor Katie’s indelible legacy and help current and future students in meaningful ways.’
The coffee incident
At the time Meyer died by suicide, she was facing disciplinary action for allegedly spilling coffee on a Stanford football player in August 2021 while she was riding her bike, according to the complaint filed by Meyer’s parents in Santa Clara County Superior Court.
The football player allegedly sexually assaulted a female soccer player, then a minor, on the Stanford women’s soccer team on which Meyer served as a captain, according to the complaint.
The school filed court documents stating the unnamed football player suffered burns on his back that required medical attention and had kissed one of Meyer’s teammates without consent.
Meyer’s father, Steve, previously told USA TODAY Sports that the disciplinary issue arose from Katie Meyer defending a teammate.
Katie Meyer’s soccer heroics
Meyer, a goaltender, was a captain of the Stanford soccer team her senior year. But her most dramatic performance came during her sophomore season.
During the 2019 NCAA women’s soccer championship between Stanford and North Carolina, the game ended 0-0 after two 10-minute overtime periods before going to penalty kicks.
Stanford won 5-4 on penalty kicks after Meyer saved two shots.
In the semifinal game against UCLA, Meyer saved the penalty kick that helped propel Stanford to a 4-1 victory.
Matter of dispute
Meyer’s parents argued that Stanford mishandled the disciplinary process and failed to provide Katie with adequate support, in part because they were not informed of the matter. The Meyers said their daughter suffered acute stress because the matter meant her degree would be put on hold until the previous disciplinary matter was resolved, which could have prevented her from graduating.
The proceedings grew contentious when the school said Meyer’s parents allowed key information to be destroyed. The school argued it needed the information to demonstrate Meyer’s state of mind at the time of her death, that Stanford was not to blame. The Meyers’ attorneys strongly denied that the parents destroyed any evidence.
Katie Meyer’s Law
A California bill spurred by the death of Meyer became state law in September 2024.
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill 1575, which requires public colleges and universities to allow students to have an adviser when facing an alleged violation of a student code of conduct.
In a joint statement Monday, Stanford said it “will adopt the principles of Katie Meyer’s Law to provide support to students in its OCS disciplinary process.’’
In order to receive state funds for student financial assistance, the schools must ‘adopt a policy permitting a student to be assisted by an adviser if the student receives a notification of an alleged violation of … a student code of conduct.’
The bill was an outgrowth of Katie’s Save, a non-profit established by the Meyers, who traveled across the country talking about the initiative they hope will become law in all 50 states.
This story has been updated with new information.