Seattle reached a $29 million settlement with the family of Jaahnavi Kandula, a 23-year-old graduate student from India who was struck and killed by a Seattle police officer in 2023, according to the agreement filed in King County Superior Court. The settlement was reported first by the local news website PubliCola and later acknowledged by city officials.
City Attorney Erika Evans said in a Wednesday statement that the settlement “was heartbreaking” and that it hoped to provide “some sense of closure” for Kandula’s family. She added that “Jaahnavi Kandula’s life mattered,” and said it mattered to Kandula’s family, friends and “to our community.”
The city described the incident involving Officer Kevin Dave, who was driving at speeds up to 74 mph (119 kph) in a 25-mph (40-kph) zone as he responded to a drug overdose call. The city said Dave had emergency lights on and used a siren at intersections.
Kandula was working toward a master’s degree in information systems at Northeastern University’s Seattle campus. In a written statement sent to one of the family’s attorneys, Vonda Sargent, Kandula’s family said no settlement could bring her back, but said it hoped the resolution reflected the seriousness of what was lost and underscored the value of her life.
The case drew wider attention after outrage and demonstrations followed the release of a recording in which another officer laughed and suggested Kandula’s life had “limited value.” The city said diplomats from India sought an investigation, and its civilian watchdog later found that Officer Daniel Auderer’s comments damaged the department’s reputation and undermined public trust.
Auderer, who was a union leader, was later fired, and the city said he has sued for wrongful termination. The city also fired the driving officer, according to the report, and Dave was cited for negligent driving and ordered to pay a $5,000 fine.
King County prosecutors declined to pursue felony charges against Dave, saying they could not prove he deliberately disregarded safety when he struck Kandula. The settlement agreement, filed last Friday, also includes an expected insurance contribution, with the report saying about $20 million of the $29 million settlement is expected to be covered by the city’s insurance.