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Stanford settles wrongful death suit with Katie Meyer’s family, announces mental health initiative

By The Associated Press (AP) — Stanford and the family of Katie Meyer have settled a wrongful death lawsuit filed against the university following the star soccer player’s suicide in 2022.

When she died, the 22-year-old Meyer was distraught over the prospect of disciplinary action from the university for “defending a teammate on campus over an incident,” her father, Steve Meyer, told NBC’s “Today” soon after her death.

The lawsuit, which was filed in Santa Clara County (California) Superior Court in November 2022, said that on the night of her death, Stanford “negligently and recklessly” sent her the formal disciplinary notice that “contained threatening language regarding sanctions and potential removal from the university.”

The university and the family announced the resolution this week in a joint statement, which did not address a monetary settlement. It said Stanford and Meyer’s family will work together to launch an initiative focused on the mental health and well-being of student-athletes at the Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance.

Stanford also will establish the Katie Meyer Leadership Award to recognize an exceptional student-athlete each year. The statement said more information on the award and the mental health initiative will be released later.

The school also will adopt the principles of Katie Meyer’s Law to support students facing Stanford’s disciplinary process. Katie Meyer’s Law, which was signed into law in 2024 by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, allows students in disciplinary proceedings at public colleges and universities in the state to choose an adviser to help them navigate the process.

In addition, the No. 19 jersey that Meyer wore at Stanford will be retired to honor her accomplishments with the soccer team. Meyer, who was a goalie and team captain, made two critical saves to lead the Cardinal to a win over North Carolina in the 2019 national championship game.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Ohio State trustees OK $100M settlement with hundreds of former students abused by doctor

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio State University agreed Wednesday to pay approximately $100 million to settle legal claims from hundreds of former student athletes who said they were sexually abused decades ago by a doctor at the university. The school has fought lawsuits in federal court since 2018 brought by former student athletes against the university over its failure to stop abuse by Dr. Richard Strauss. Strauss worked at the school from 1978 to 1998 and also ran an off-campus clinic. He died in 2005. During a meeting Wednesday, the school's Board of Trustees approved a preliminary agreement with all but one of the 280 survivors with claims still involved in pending litigation. Once finalized, the settlement could mark the end of a lengthy legal battle and close a painful chapter in the school's history. “The survivors of the Strauss abuse are all Buckeyes, will always be a part of our family and our community, and I firmly believe that,” the school's president, Ravi Bellamkonda, said during the meeting. “We continue to be very grateful to them for their courage in coming forward, and reaching a final resolution is very important to us and is an important step forward.”
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