In a significant legal development, the City of Seattle has agreed to pay a $31 million settlement to the family of Jaahnavi Kandula, the 23-year-old Indian graduate student who was struck and killed by a police patrol car in January 2023. The settlement marks the conclusion of a high-profile civil case that drew international attention to police accountability and the safety of international students in the United States. The agreement was formalized through a notice filed in King County Superior Court.
Details of the Financial Settlement
City Attorney Erika Evans confirmed the settlement, stating that the loss of Jaahnavi Kandula was a heartbreaking tragedy for the community. The $31 million payment is intended to provide some measure of closure to the Kandula family, who lost their daughter just as she was pursuing her Master’s degree in Information Systems at Northeastern University’s Seattle campus. Evans emphasized that Jaahnavi’s life mattered deeply to her family, friends, and the city, and the settlement reflects the gravity of the incident.
Circumstances of the Fatal Collision
The incident occurred on January 23, 2023, when Officer Kevin Dave was responding to a priority call regarding a drug overdose. Investigations revealed that Dave was driving his patrol vehicle at approximately 74 mph in a zone where the speed limit was strictly 25 mph. Although the officer had activated his emergency lights and was chirping his siren at intersections, the excessive speed made it impossible to avoid the collision as Kandula was crossing the street. The impact resulted in fatal injuries, sparking immediate demands for a thorough investigation into police driving protocols.
Controversy Over Insensitive Bodycam Footage
The case gained further notoriety months later when body-worn camera footage from another officer, Daniel Auderer, was released. In the recording, Auderer was heard laughing and making disparaging remarks about the victim’s age and value, suggesting the city should just write a check because her life had limited value. These comments triggered a wave of protests in Seattle and strong diplomatic protests from the Indian government, while the civilian watchdog agency later determined that Auderer’s conduct Notably damaged the department's reputation and public trust.
Accountability and Disciplinary Actions
Following the internal investigations, both officers involved faced disciplinary measures. Officer Daniel Auderer was terminated from the force for his unprofessional conduct, while Officer Kevin Dave was also removed from his position. Dave faced a charge of negligent driving and was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine. However, the King County Prosecutor’s Office declined to file more serious criminal charges, citing an inability to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officer acted with conscious disregard for safety during the emergency response.
Analysis of the Settlement Impact
According to legal analysts, the $31 million settlement is one of the largest of its kind in Seattle's history involving a police vehicle fatality. Experts suggest that such a substantial financial agreement often serves as a catalyst for systemic changes within municipal departments. While the settlement doesn't bring back the promising young student, it underscores the civil liability cities face when emergency protocols are breached, while the case has also prompted discussions on the need for stricter regulations regarding high-speed responses in densely populated urban areas.