Table of contents
- Latest UC Berkeley Harassment Lawsuit Updates
- October 7, 2026: McKeever Memoir Reported as Discovery Nears
- September 1, 2026: Former Softball Player Sues Regents and Coach
- June 16, 2026: Appeals Court Revives Swimmers’ Lawsuit
- December 28, 2023: SafeSport Suspends McKeever
- January 31, 2023: UC Berkeley Fires Swim Coach McKeever
- May 25, 2022: Cal Places McKeever on Administrative Leave
- December 15, 2021: Team Physician Placed on Leave
- What Is Harassment?
- Who May Be Affected?
- Reported Injuries or Damages
- Evidence to Preserve
- Filing Deadlines
- Potential Compensation
- Frequently Asked Questions
- What Claims Do the Cal Swimmers Make Against the Regents?
- Did the Court Say the Swimmers Filed Too Late?
- Who Is Teri McKeever?
- What Does the Cal Softball Lawsuit Allege About Coach Chelsea Spencer?
- What Happened to Dr. Kent Scheff After the Complaints?
Former Cal swimmers and a former softball player have sued the Regents of the University of California over alleged abuse by UC Berkeley coaches.
The 18 swimmers allege verbal and emotional abuse by their head coach. They say the university failed to protect them. A California appeals court revived their case on June 16, 2026, and it is heading to discovery.
A separate softball suit, filed in late August 2026, alleges a coerced sexual relationship with a coach. Neither is a class action, and no MDL has been formed.
Latest UC Berkeley Harassment Lawsuit Updates
October 7, 2026: McKeever Memoir Reported as Discovery Nears
SFGATE reported that former UC Berkeley swim coach Teri McKeever is writing a memoir. It is titled “From Podiums to Pariah” [1]. The former swimmers’ case against the UC Regents is moving toward discovery.
Plaintiffs’ lawyer Kelsey Campbell is preparing to enter the discovery process. She told SFGATE it could take up to a full year from now.
September 1, 2026: Former Softball Player Sues Regents and Coach
Berkeleyside reported that a former Cal softball player, identified as Jane Doe, sued the UC Regents and former head coach Chelsea Spencer. She filed in Alameda County Superior Court in late August 2026 [2].
The complaint alleges a coerced sexual relationship and a failure to protect her. These are only allegations. The suit seeks unspecified economic damages.
June 16, 2026: Appeals Court Revives Swimmers’ Lawsuit
Courthouse News reported that the First District Court of Appeal reversed the dismissal of 18 former Cal swimmers’ suit against the UC Regents [3]. The court held the claims are not necessarily time-barred under the delayed discovery rule.
December 28, 2023: SafeSport Suspends McKeever
The U.S. Center for SafeSport suspended McKeever for three months and placed her on probation for 12 months. SFGATE reported it followed an investigation into her tenure at Cal.
According to SFGATE, citing an Orange County Register report, her SafeSport agreement included an admission that she emotionally and physically abused swimmers. McKeever had denied abuse in 2023.
January 31, 2023: UC Berkeley Fires Swim Coach McKeever
UC Berkeley fired women’s swimming coach Teri McKeever after an investigation by Munger, Tolles & Olson, the L.A. Times reported [4]. The investigation found her behavior violated school policies and created a hostile environment.
The university’s investigation is not a court ruling. McKeever said, “I deny and unequivocally refute all conclusions that I abused or bullied any athlete.”
May 25, 2022: Cal Places McKeever on Administrative Leave
Cal placed McKeever on paid administrative leave amid an investigation, NBC Sports reported [5]. This came a day after the Orange County Register reported that swimmers accused her of verbal and emotional bullying.
The report said 20 current or former Cal swimmers said McKeever verbally and emotionally bullied them. The claims were unproven.
December 15, 2021: Team Physician Placed on Leave
UC Berkeley placed team physician Dr. Kent Scheff on investigatory leave after complaints by female athletes, SwimSwam reported [6]. A school spokesman confirmed the leave to the Southern California News Group.
Scheff was an associate team physician for Cal’s athletic teams. The complaints are allegations, and no finding has been reported.
What Is Harassment?
According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, harassment can include unwelcome sexual advances and requests for sexual favors [7]. It does not have to be sexual and can include offensive remarks about a person’s sex.
The suits against the Regents describe conduct by coaches toward student-athletes. They allege verbal and emotional abuse and a coerced relationship. None of this is a court finding.
Who May Be Affected?
Current or former Cal student-athletes who say a coach abused, coerced or sexually pressured them may be affected. This fits best if they say staff knew and did not act.
The swimmers’ suit covers women’s swimming and diving athletes who competed between 2000 and 2020. Courthouse News reported the swimmers claim Cal knew about the coach’s behavior since 1994.
The softball suit covers a player who joined Cal’s team as a pitcher in fall 2023. It says the university did not remove Spencer from a position of authority.
Whether a claim fits depends on individual facts, so a lawyer should review your situation before you decide whether to act.
Reported Injuries or Damages
Courthouse News reported that the appeals court described the swimmers’ pleaded harm. It listed depression, anxiety, panic attacks, post-traumatic stress and disordered eating. Many plaintiffs had suicidal ideations. These are allegations.
The softball player alleges she developed anxiety about returning to campus. She says she lost a senior season and a chance to play professionally.
The complaint says the relationship with Spencer became sexual in May 2024 and lasted about a year. It calls the intimacy “mutual” within an unequal power dynamic.
Spencer said the claims “will be addressed in the appropriate legal processes.” The Metropolitan News-Enterprise reported that the appeals court said athletes are at risk of abuse by a coach because of the power differential [8].
The opinion repeats an Orange County Register allegation that McKeever verbally and emotionally abused, swore at and threatened swimmers almost daily.
Evidence to Preserve
Records that may help show what happened and who knew include:
- Messages, texts and emails with the coach or staff
- Team schedules, travel and practice records
- Playing-time and scholarship records
- Medical and counseling records
- Complaints or reports made to the athletics department, the campus Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination or the NCAA, and any replies
- Names of teammates or staff who witnessed events
- A dated personal timeline of what happened
Keep originals where you can. Do not delete messages or social media posts, even if they seem minor or unrelated to the claim at the time.
Filing Deadlines
Deadlines for harassment and abuse claims come from state law. They vary with where the athlete lives and when the harm was discovered. The swimmers’ case shows a time limit can decide a case.
A missed deadline can end a claim despite strong facts. Speak to a lawyer promptly to learn which deadline applies to you.
Potential Compensation
Damages sought in suits like these can include a lost athletic career, counseling and medical costs for emotional distress, and non-economic harm.
A cheerleader concussion suit is a different matter. The San Francisco Chronicle reported on January 23, 2023 that the university agreed to pay $695,000 to Melissa Martin and her lawyers. It denied wrongdoing [9].
Compensation amounts vary by case. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Potential compensation depends on the facts of each claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Claims Do the Cal Swimmers Make Against the Regents?
The Cal swimmers make claims of negligence and negligent supervision or retention in Touhey v. The Regents. They also claim negligent failure to warn, train or educate, and negligent infliction of emotional distress.
Did the Court Say the Swimmers Filed Too Late?
The court did not say the swimmers filed too late. Justice Monique Langhorne Wilson wrote in case A171325 that accrual of their claims began in May 2022. A concurrence said delayed discovery should be decided plaintiff by plaintiff.
Who Is Teri McKeever?
Teri McKeever coached Cal women’s swimming for 29 years before she was fired. She served as head coach of the U.S. Olympic women’s swimming team in 2012. She denies wrongdoing, and her attorney said the firing was the result of gender bias.
What Does the Cal Softball Lawsuit Allege About Coach Chelsea Spencer?
The Cal softball lawsuit alleges that coach Chelsea Spencer cut the plaintiff’s playing time and that the university failed to protect her. Spencer became head coach in 2020 and resigned in June 2025. The plaintiff’s lawyer called the university’s response “an institutional failure.”
What Happened to Dr. Kent Scheff After the Complaints?
After the complaints, Kent Scheff remained on investigatory leave as of June 23, 2022. The Medical Board of California reported no disciplinary action against him. No later outcome has been reported.