In February of this year, twenty-one-year-old Katie Meyer– the former Stanford University soccer captain– tragically took her own life.
Now, her parents are suing the university for wrongful death and claiming that the school was responsible.
The domino effect of events all reportedly began in late February after Katie rode past a Stanford football player on her bike and spilled coffee on him.
The decision was supposedly an act of solidarity after that football player allegedly assaulted one of Katie’s soccer teammates– a seventeen-year-old minor.
And following the coffee incident, the university sent Katie a formal written disciplinary notice, as well as put her diploma on hold for a few months– threatening her graduation and subsequent ability to attend Stanford Law School.
According to the complaint, which was filed on Wednesday, November 23, in Santa Clara County Superior Court, Katie received the disciplinary notice via email on the night of February 28– the same evening she took her own life.
The complaint alleges that Stanford “negligently and recklessly” sent that notice.
“Stanford’s after-hours disciplinary charge, and the reckless nature and manner of submission to Katie, caused Katie to suffer an acute stress reaction that impulsively led her to suicide,” says the complaint.
Instagram; pictured above is Katie
“Katie’s suicide was completed without planning, and solely in response to the shocking and deeply distressing information she received from Stanford while alone in her room without any support or resources.”
On top of the wrongful death claim, the lawsuit has also charged Stanford University– as well as the school’s president, deans, association deans, vice provost, and general counsel– with Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress and other related actions.
In a statement initially released on November 25 and updated on December 1, the university vehemently denied playing a part in any wrongdoing.
“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. However, we strongly disagree with any assertion that the university is responsible for her death. The complaint brought by the Meyer family, unfortunately, contains allegations that are false and misleading.”
According to the statement, the university claims that after Katie was informed of her disciplinary review, the Office of Community Standards (OCS) offered her “an advisor to work with her throughout the process and told her she could have a support person of her choosing with her in any meeting or conversation with OCS.”
Stanford also refuted the claim that OCS had not communicated with Katie prior to February 28– the evening she took her life.
The statement detailed how days earlier, the head of OCS “informed Katie that a decision would be made by February 28 whether to proceed to a hearing.”
Then, the twenty-one-year-old was reportedly given until that date to provide any additional information for consideration.
“Katie provided no information, and OCS informed her on the evening of February 28 that the matter would move to a hearing.”
In terms of what was included in the email correspondence, the university alleges that Katie was “explicitly told” that the notice was not a conclusive determination that she had done anything wrong. Stanford also maintains that OCS reportedly offered to meet with Katie the discuss the matter further.
“She was also given a number to call for immediate support and was specifically told that this resource was available to her twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week,” the statement added.
The complaint filed by the Meyer family also alleged that Katie had sent an email response to the university after she received the disciplinary notice– detailing how “shocked and distraught” she was– and did not receive a response.
“Stanford failed to respond to Katie’s expression of distress, instead ignored it, and scheduled a meeting for three days later via email. Stanford employees made no effort whatsoever to check on Katie’s wellbeing, either by a simple phone call or in-person welfare check,” the complaint stated.
Again, though, the university denied this course of events and claimed that Katie received a reply from OCS staff within one hour of sending her response.
“Katie asked for a meeting to discuss the matter, was offered several available times, and chose one three days later despite the availability of an earlier appointment,” Stanford’s statement said.
As for the assault allegations regarding the football player– the initial reason why Katie spilled coffee and faced disciplinary action at all– the Meyer family’s lawsuit claims that Stanford failed to initiate and follow through with any Title IX or OCS disciplinary process for the athlete.
The complaint also pointed out how this was in spite of the university’s own zero-tolerance policy, which would have required Stanford to dismiss the football player from the team.
The university’s statement pushed back against these claims, too, stating that “the allegation that Stanford failed to address a claim that a football player kissed one of Katie’s soccer teammates without her permission is inaccurate.”
“In fact, it is the university that initially reported this claim to Stanford’s Title IX office and the police. However, the Title IX office did not pursue the matter since the criteria for moving forward with an investigation were not met.”
Prior to Katie’s death, Stanford had described the student-athlete as “fiercely competitive” and “extraordinarily committed to everything and everyone in her world.”
And in a more recent statement from Katie’s parents, Steve and Gina, they expressed how they are seeking justice not just for their daughter but in hopes of sparking systemic change.
“We are deeply troubled and disappointed with what we have learned since her passing and have no choice but to move forward with litigation to achieve justice for Katie and protect future students,” the Meyers said.
“In addition, we are working to seek systemic changes to improve the safety and support of the Stanford students currently on campus and those enrolled in the future through our foundation, Katie’s Save.”
As for Stanford University, the school’s closing statement underscored: “We plan to fully defend the university and named defendants against the allegations in the complaint.”
If true crime defines your free time, this is for you: join Chip Chick’s True Crime Tribe
Sign up for Chip Chick’s newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox.