Photo: Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty
The family of late Stanford University soccer captainKatie Meyeris suing the college for wrongful death eight months after she took her own life in an on-campus residence.
Now, her parents are taking legal action against the university.
Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty
The lawsuit said that at the time of her death, Meyer had been facing disciplinary action from the school for allegedly spilling coffee on a football player who had been accused of raping a minor teammate of Meyer’s, the outlet reported.
“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 to her suicide,” the lawsuit alleged, per the publication.
USA Todayreported that the lawsuit also stated, “Katie’s suicidewas 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.''
It noted that Meyer was informed about the Violation of the Fundamental Standard charge against her on the evening of her death, according toUSA Today.The disciplinary action meant that she would not receive her diploma for three months and put her position on the team, and as a student, at risk.
However, Stanford has denied any wrongdoing or liability in Meyer’s death.
The university’s assistant vice president of external communications, Dee Mostofi, tells PEOPLE in a statement via email: “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.”
Mostofi notes that the university has “not seen the formal complaint.”
Continues Mostofi: “However, it is important to emphasize that we are committed to supporting students through the student judicial process under OCS, and we did so in this case. In particular, the university offered Katie 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.”
RELATED VIDEO: Parents of Stanford Soccer Star Katie Meyer Open Up About Her Death: ‘Worst Nightmare’
Family attorney Kim Dougherty also said in a statement, perSports Illustrated, “Katie Meyer’s tragic death resulted from Stanford’s egregious and reckless mishandling of its disciplinary process.”
She continued, “Stanford has known for years that its disciplinary process, in its own Committee 10’s words, is ‘overly punitive’ and harmful to its students, yet the school and its administrators have done nothing to correct its procedures.”
Dougherty then said that the lawsuit “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.”
PEOPLE reached out to Dougherty but did not immediately hear back.
Meyer’s relatives are suing for survival action, breach of implied contract, breach of contract, violation of California Education Code Section 66270, negligent infliction of emotional distress and loss of consortium, according toSports Illustrated.
Stanford’s board of trustees; school president Marc Tessier-Lavigne; deans and associate deans Lisa Caldera, Tiffany Gabrielson and Alyce Haley; vice provost Susie Brubaker-Cole and general counsel Debra Zumwalt are also defendants in the claim,Sports Illustratedreported.
source: people.com
