Stanford settles lawsuit with Katie Meyer’s parents over disciplinary email linked to soccer star’s tragic death

Katie Meyer was only 22. She was a team captain, a top goalkeeper, and a leader on and off the field. On Monday, Stanford University ended its long legal battle with her parents after reaching a settlement over her death by suicide in 2022. Her family had blamed the school for what they called serious and ongoing failures that added to her stress during a discipline case.

Trigger Warning: This story talks about suicide and mental health.

Stanford did not share the money details of the settlement. Still, both sides confirmed important changes. As part of the deal, Stanford will retire Katie Meyer’s No. 19 jersey. The school will also follow the ideas of “Katie Meyer’s Law,” which focuses on mental health help for students facing discipline. The family and the school said they want these steps to protect future students.

Katie Meyer died in March 2022, just hours after she learned she could lose her degree and be removed from school. That message came late at night. Her parents later said the email felt threatening and caused panic. The next morning, Katie was found dead in her dorm room. Her death shocked the college sports world.

Katie Meyer’s final months and the case against Stanford University

Katie Meyer was the goalkeeper who helped Stanford win the 2019 NCAA women’s soccer title. She was also the team captain. Near the end of her fifth year, Stanford opened a case against her after a coffee spill involving a football player. Katie said it was an accident. The football player, who had been accused of making an unwanted advance toward one of Katie’s teammates, did not file a formal complaint. He later said he did not want any punishment that would affect her life. This detail was shared in ESPN’s documentary, “Save: The Katie Meyer Story.”

Even so, Stanford kept the case open for about six months. On February 28, 2022, the school told Katie her degree was on hold and she could be expelled. That night, her parents said she searched online for ways to defend herself. She felt scared and overwhelmed.

Court papers from her family said Katie had been meeting sports psychologists and was dealing with growing depression. She told the school she had been stressed for months and said, “I am terrified that an accident will destroy my future.” Stanford argued in court that it could not have expected her actions and called her response unusual. The family’s lawyer strongly disagreed and said the school knew its process could cause harm.

As part of the settlement, Stanford will start a new mental health program for student athletes at the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute. The school will also create the Katie Meyer Leadership Award. In a joint statement, the family said, “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.”Stanford University settled a wrongful death lawsuit with the parents of soccer star Katie Meyer, who died by suicide in 2022. The school will retire her No. 19 jersey, support “Katie Meyer’s Law,” and launch new mental health programs. The case focused on how Stanford handled a late-night disciplinary email that deeply distressed her.



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