Family of Stanford goalkeeper who took her own life sue college

The family of a standout goalkeeper at Stanford University has sued the school after the student’s suicide in March, claiming it is responsible for the student’s death.

Katie Meyer, 22, took her own life in February after being handed a disciplinary letter from brass at the university, following an August 2021 incident in which she allegedly spilled coffee on another student athlete.

The student, a football player at the school whose identity has not been revealed, at the time had been accused of sexually assaulting one of her teammates, who was a minor at the time.

The lawsuit, filed by Steven and Gina Meyer Wednesday, states that on the night of her death, Stanford ‘negligently and recklessly’ sent her the formal disciplinary notice without properly vetting the 2021 encounter.

It further declared that the warning ‘contained threatening language regarding sanctions and even ‘removal from the university,’ which put the star goalie in a deteriorating state of mind that would ultimately see her snuff out her life.

It is currently unclear if Meyer purposely spilled the coffee or not on the football player. She was reportedly riding her bike when she reportedly spilled the drink, the suit states, claiming it was an accident

The suit maintains that the school’s use of ‘heavy legal jargon and threatening language ’caused their daughter to ‘suffer an acute stress reaction that impulsively led to her suicide.’

The filing brings claims of wrongful death, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and six other allegations. Meyer was found dead in her dorm room on March 1. Per the suit, the school letter was open on her computer screen at the time of her death.

The family of Katie Meyer, a standout goalkeeper at Stanford University, has sued the school after the student’s suicide in March, claiming it should be held accountable for her death

Meyer, 22, took her own life in February after being handed a disciplinary letter from brass at the university, following an August 2021 incident in which she allegedly spilled coffee on another student athlete

Steven and Gina Meyer, have now filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the school, claiming their daughter’s suicide was ‘solely in response to the shocking and deeply distressing information she received from Stanford.’ Meyer was found dead in her dorm room on March 1. Per the suit, the school letter was open on her computer screen at the time of her death

Meyer, the former captain of the team and a 2019 champion, died in March of this year, with coroner’s later declaring her death a suicide.

At the time, the college senior had been nursing a knee surgery, and had plans of attending law school after graduation.

According to the suit – which names the University, its board of trustees, deans, and general counsel – the school’s letter threatened those plans, putting stress on the soccer star.

It also revealed that the school never pursued disciplinary action against the football star, due to a lack of evidence. Instead, it argues, the storied university honed in on their daughter, seemingly to put the kibosh on the burgeoning situation.

Attorney Kim Dougherty wrote in a statement that accompanied the filing Wednesday that Meyer’s death was the direct product of ‘Stanford’s egregious and reckless mishandling of its disciplinary process.’

‘Stanford has known for years that its disciplinary process, in its own Committee 10’s words, is “overly punitive” and harmful to its students,’ Dougherty wrote, ‘yet the school and its administrators have done nothing to correct its procedures.’

‘Through this litigation we will not only obtain justice for Katie, but also ensure necessary change is put into place to help protect Stanford students and provide safeguards when students are in need of support.’

The suit focuses on how the night of February 28, more than six months after the coffee-spilling incident, Meyer received a notice from the school that she was to undergo a disciplinary hearing to potentially face punishment over her actions.

Meyer’s was the goalkeeper for the Stanford women’s soccer team. The soccer captain, who was also recovering from knee surgery, reportedly received the notice around 7pm on the night she died

Meyer immediately responded to the email, noting that she was ‘shocked and distraught’ over the letter.

According to her parents’ complaint, the school responded by setting up a counseling session – three days later.

However, by then, it was too late for the teen – and she was found dead in her dorm room the day after leaving what her parents labeled a scathing correspondence.

The filing further contends that Meyer received the notice around 7pm on the night she died, when campus counseling resources had already closed for the evening.

Meyer, the former captain of the team and a 2019 champion, died in March of this year, with coroner’s later declaring her death a suicide. Her parents claim the school purposely prolonged the six month disciplinary process, and ‘made no effort whatsoever to check on Katie’s well-being, either by a simple phone call or in-person welfare check’

In her response, sent minutes after having a Facetime conversation with her parents, reportedly told the school that she had been ‘experiencing anxiety during the disciplinary process,’ which at that point had persisted for more than half a year.

She said she had been ‘scared for months that my clumsiness will ruin my chances of leaving Stanford on a good note,’ and that a mark on her record would hurt her chances to pursue a career in law.

Steven and “http://pugachjov64.ru Gina claim the school ‘ignored’ their daughter’s distress during the seven month disciplinary process, and ‘made no effort whatsoever to check on Katie’s well-being, either by a simple phone call or in-person welfare check.’

The school’s Assistant Vice President of External Communications, Dee Mostofi, meanwhile, said staff replied to her ‘within the hour’ of her email and that she was ‘offered several available times and had chose[n] one three days later, despite the availability of an earlier appointment.’

He also said the school had reached out to Meyer ‘several days’ prior to sending her the letter, as to give her adequate time to send over any additional information for consideration. Mostofi said the student-athlete would never reply to that request.

The filing alleges that Stanford also ‘selectively determined not to follow through with any formal discipline for the football player’ noting how he was allowed to play the entire season without any real consequence.’

It revealed the player, did not file a complaint to Stanford’s office of community standards over the incident, and reportedly sought to quash the disciplinary process and ‘make amends’ with Meyer.

The Meyers’ lawyers additionally wrote that the football player, who remains unidentified, ‘did not want any punishment that impacts her life.’

Instead, the formal complaint was filed by Dean Lisa Caldera, shortly after she called Meyer to formal meeting days days after the coffee-spilling incident.

During the sitdown, Meyer reportedly told the dean that the occurrence was an accident, the suit states. Nonetheless, the school pursued disciplinary action, despite it allegedly not even being supported by the victim of the incident.

After the meeting, Caldera filed the complaint with OCS, and Meyer was sent a letter in September of last year stating it had been filed.

At the time, the college senior had been nursing a knee surgery, and had plans of attending law school after graduation, which were threatened by the planned disciplinary trial

Her parents allege that in the months since then, their daughter’s mental state would worsen, to the point where she became suicidal.

The suit also noted how in the initial disciplinary letter, the school’s associate dean, who was also named in the suit, warned the student ‘that this is an inherently stressful process.’

In November of last year, Meyer sent a formal statement to school staffers regarding the allegations, where she said she had been ‘stressed out for months’ and ‘terrified that an accident’ would destroy her future.

Per the lawsuit, at the time, Meyer had been meeting with sports psychologists to discuss her increasing anxiety and depressive symptoms.

The suit states that after sending that email, Meyer would not reach out to the OCS office until February 25, after she received the notice she would be subject to trial.

The soccer player had posted a TikTok regarding her knee surgery just days before her death

A portion of the letter cited in the suit read: ‘The Judicial Officer shall determine that there is sufficient evidence to file formal charges when s/he concludes that a fair-minded panelist could find the allegation(s) to be true beyond a reasonable doubt.’

The letter also warned that Meyer’s diploma would be placed on hold during the disciplinary process, and the charges she faced could result in her expulsion.

The letter was sent on the last day that Stanford could legally bring forth charges, as the school must do so within six months of an incident. The suit argues that by prolonging their decision, the school contributed to the student’s diminishing mental state.

The filing would highlight the phrases ‘there is sufficient evidence’ and ‘find the allegation(s) to be true beyond a reasonable doubt.’

In an interview with USA Sports, the football player whose blowup with Meyer spawned the situation, insisted that he ‘does not believe the university is responsible for her death.

He added that the ‘Stanford community continues to grieve Katie’s tragic death.’

Stanford spokesperson Dee Mostofi addressed the lawsuit’s claims in a statement to DailyMail.com, in which she echoed the football player’s stance.

‘The Stanford community continues to grieve Katie’s tragic death and we sympathize with her family for the unimaginable pain that Katie’s passing has caused them,’ Mostofi wrote.

‘ However, we strongly disagree with any assertion that the university is responsible for her death. While we have not yet seen the formal complaint brought by the Meyer family, we are aware of some of the allegations made in the filing, which are false and misleading.’

Meyer was found dead in her dorm room on March 1. Per the suit, the OCS letter was open on her computer screen at the time of her death. The suit, which seeks damages for the family’s trauma, is ongoing.

If you or a loved one is experiencing suicidal thoughts or actions, please contact the National Suicide Hotline at 988.

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