US EditionTragedy befalls Jaahnavi Kandula's family again, father passes away two days before ₹262 crore settlement from Seattle
The $29 million settlement resolves claims after a police vehicle speeding at nearly triple the limit killed Kandula in 2023; $20 million will be covered by city insurance.
- On Wednesday, February 12, 2026, the City of Seattle reached a $29 million settlement with Jaahnavi Kandula's family and filed a notice of settlement in King County Superior Court last Friday.
- Dashcam and court filings show Kevin Dave, driving officer, struck Jaahnavi Kandula in a crosswalk on January 23, 2023, while speeding 74 mph in a 25 mph zone and hitting her at 63 mph in South Lake Union.
- A bodycam recording revealed Daniel Auderer, former SPD officer, saying the city should 'just write a check' and trial attorney Vonda Sargent said, 'This collision was preventable' and 'She was struck down in her prime.'
- About $20 million of the settlement is expected to be covered by the city's insurer, the driving officer was fired, cited for negligent driving, and ordered to pay a $5,000 fine.
- The case drew international attention as Indian diplomats sought an investigation and Indian American Community Services renewed calls for police reforms; the settlement follows a King County jury awarding nearly $31 million in a CHOP case.
13 Articles
13 Articles
The Center Square
Seattle settles for $29M with family of student killed by speeding police officer
(The Center Square) – On Tuesday, a judge will decide whether or not to approve a $29 million settlement between the city of Seattle and the family of Jaahnavi Kandula,
The Rs 262 crore mirror: What Seattle’s payout for Jaahnavi Kandula reveals about how ‘cheap’ life is in India
The need of the hour is for a cultural reboot of our socio-political appreciation for the value of life, and for the law to empower that change with exemplary compensation and damages. The loss of innocent lives at the hands of state actors, whether in police action or criminal administrative indifference, must be compensated in a similar vein to what the city of Seattle is paying Jaahnavi’s family
Family of Indian student, killed by U.S. officer, to get ₹262 crore settlement
Jaahnavi Kandula was hit by Officer Kevin Dave, who was driving as fast as 119 kph in a 40-kph zone as he responded to a drug overdose call. He had his emergency lights on and had been using his siren at intersections.
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