STATEMENT: Justice Law Collaborative responds to the release of ESPN60’s SAVE:The Katie Meyer Story
Katie Meyer was more than a name on a sports roster. She was a fierce competitor, an inspiring teammate, and a young woman who revered academic rigor. She was the most loyal and loving daughter, sister, and friend.
As Stanford University’s standout goalkeeper and captain of the Lady Cardinals, she helped Stanford reach the NCAA Division 1 soccer championship in 2019 - making her a household name in college athletics. The iconic image of her celebrating at the 2019 College Cup final - arms outstretched, exuberant, and fearless - became a symbol of victory and the competitive spirit she embodied.
In March 2022, Katie died alone in her Stanford University dorm room…by suicide.
Today, (May 10, 2025) ESPN aired a documentary that follows Katie Meyer’s rise to women’s soccer royalty, her consistent pursuit of athletic and academic excellence, and her profound passion for her sport, community, family, and others. Through the documentary, Katie’s family members share her legacy… and the heartbreaking journey they’ve collectively taken to transform heartbreak into action. After Katie’s passing, the family founded Katie’s Save, a powerful movement designed to spark conversation about student mental health, pressures in elite sports, and efforts to protect America’s youth as they transition from young adulthood to adulthood during their collegiate years.
Their advocacy led to the creation and passage of the “Katie Meyer Law” in 2024, a landmark piece of legislation that provides critical protection for students navigating disciplinary processes – protections woefully absent at Stanford University.
The family has also taken legal action, filing a wrongful death lawsuit against Stanford University. Through the discovery process, the Meyers and legal counsel Kim Dougherty of Justice Law Collaborative have learned much about the operational inner workings at Stanford University and the systematic failures that led to Katie’s passing. The extent of those failures could not be shared with E60, as Stanford University has been hiding the truth from the public through its improper “confidentiality” designations to every document and deposition in litigation. JLC is challenging this strategy and will ensure the truth is told and Stanford is held accountable.
“As legal counsel for the Meyer family, we have been profoundly disappointed in Stanford University’s lack of support and absence of integrity following this senseless tragedy. Katie loved representing Stanford and wished to continue her academic pursuits at Stanford Law–a goal she was deprived of pursuing. Instead of acknowledging its responsibility, Stanford seeks to cause further harm by diminishing Katie’s contributions to the Stanford community and trivializing her memory. What’s more, Stanford’s actions are forcing the Meyers to relive their trauma, which is unconscionable.
SAVE: The Katie Meyer Story reveals much about Katie’s character, her spirit, and her family’s profound commitment to what is right and just, not exclusively for them, but for all. We remain in awe of the Meyer family’s strength in finding purpose through pain after such a devastating loss. When most would be immobilized by pain, the Meyers have chosen to advocate for and protect other young people. They are committed to doing all they can to educate others about athlete mental health and to highlight the failures in higher education environments that require immediate remediation to prevent further harm.
We are grateful to ESPN, Julie Foudy, and Jen Karson for their hard work and commitment to sharing Katie’s remarkable story and the Meyers’ efforts to honor her legacy and encourage positive change so no other family has to suffer the loss that they have. We look forward to ensuring that Stanford’s liability is exposed and the entirety of her story is told before the court in April, 2026.
Justice Law Collaborative will continue its advocacy on behalf of Katie and the Meyer family as they strive to federalize Katie Meyer’s Law. And, we will not rest until the truth of Stanford’s failure to respond to Katie’s repeated outcries of mental and emotional distress are recognized, and the university is legally held to account for its abusive disciplinary processes – which tragically and unnecessarily led to Katie’s passing. An incredibly vibrant and promising life has been lost, and Stanford is at fault. Shame on the university for not righting its wrongs.”
Justice Law Collaborative (JLC) embodies the highest level of professional, trauma-informed legal expertise associated with social justice and advocacy. The firm, led by attorneys with extensive experience in pharmaceutical and medical device litigation, wrongful death, medical malpractice, reproductive rights, sexual assault and abuse, and personal injury cases, has represented athletes abused by Olympic coach Larry Nassar, teenagers tormented by hostile, uncertified schools parading as therapy-based programs for troubled teens, and has represented consumers and patients harmed by corporate greed and negligence, specifically the pharmaceutical, reproductive medicine, and tobacco industries. Additionally, JLC is at the forefront of legislative reform, spearheading efforts to modify statutes of limitations and enact new laws to protect the innocent and to provide proper financial and judicial remedies to victims. The firm was ranked a 2025 Best Law Firm by Best Lawyers®, and firm partners have been named to Massachusetts Super Lawyer® and Best Lawyers® lists for multiple, consecutive years. More information about the firm and its far-reaching results can be found at: www.justicelawcollaborative.com.
ESPN’s SAVE: The Katie Meyer Story
#F19HT #KatieMeyerFoundation #KatieMeyer #KatiesSave