Seattle Pays $29M to Family of Indian Student Killed by Cop

Tragic Crash Sparks Outrage

Kandula, a graduate student majoring in information systems at Northeastern University in Seattle, was struck by Officer Kevin Dave, who was traversing a 25-mph (40-kph) zone at 74 mph (119 kph) while responding to a drug overdose call on January 23, 2023. He was already using emergency lights and the siren at intersections.
Kandula’s death had triggered international outrage—primarily in India and India’s Indian community in the United States—above all after a recording in another officer’s body camera came out showing the officer laughing and saying Kandula’s life would have “limited value” and the city should “just write a check.”

Massive $29M Settlement Details

The legal process, which included a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Kandula’s parents in King County Superior Court. The family wanted to get justice for her daughter and accountability for what they called police neglect.
According to the settlement terms, the city’s insurance will cover roughly USD 20 million, while the rest would be borne by the city itself. The deal concludes years of litigation and represents one of the largest settlements in a case involving police misconduct in Seattle’s history. 

Aftermath for Officers Involved

The case ignited an outpouring of public fury when body camera footage emerged that revealed comments made by another officer, Daniel Auderer, after the crash. Auderer laughed as he detailed the incident in the video, saying in the video.
He said, "Uh, I think she went up on the hood, hit the windshield, and then when he hit the brakes, flew off the car…But she is dead.”
Auderer had been terminated from staff and later sued the city for unlawful termination. He described his comments as a critique of how attorneys could handle the case. 

Family's Fight for Justice

Jahnavi’s family has rallied together with other community members and diplomats, a testament that the tragedy’s significance is extensive and has played out over a long process.
Both the life and wasted possibility of Jahnavi have been commemorated by those who knew her and by those who kept watching the case around the globe.