Seattle settles Jaahnavi Kandula wrongful-death case for $29,011,000, echoing outrage over ‘limited value’ remark
Three years after 23-year-old graduate student Jaahnavi Kandula was killed in a Seattle crosswalk, the city has reached a $29,011,000 settlement with her family, resolving a wrongful-death lawsuit and reigniting debate over police driving policies and accountability.
A figure chosen with meaning
The settlement amount includes a pointed nod to a remark captured on police video in the aftermath of the January 2023 crash, when a now-former officer mocked the loss of life and suggested the city should “write a check” for $11,000, saying the victim had “limited value.” The final sum — $29,011,000 — incorporates that 11,000 figure, a symbolic response embraced by advocates and the family’s legal team as a clear rejection of the sentiment.
“There’s a sense of relief,” said trial attorney Vonda Sargent, who represents Kandula’s estate. She emphasized that while no amount could replace a life, the resolution acknowledged the gravity of what was taken. “She was struck down in her prime,” Sargent said, underscoring Kandula’s promise as a student and her impact on family and community.
How the crash unfolded
Kandula, a graduate student from India studying in Seattle, was crossing Dexter Avenue North at Thomas Street in January 2023 when a speeding police vehicle fatally struck her. The patrol car, driven by then-officer Kevin Dave, reached 74 mph on a street with a 25 mph limit and hit Kandula at 63 mph. Dash camera footage captured the impact, which sent her more than a hundred feet down the roadway.
Dave was responding to a high-priority overdose call. Later reviews found he failed to properly adjust speed while responding and did not operate his vehicle safely as he approached the intersection where Kandula was in the marked crosswalk.
Discipline and internal findings
Department leaders cited multiple policy violations, including unsafe speed and improper use of emergency equipment while responding to the call. Following an internal investigation, Dave was fired in 2024.
A separate controversy emerged when body camera audio captured then-officer Daniel Auderer laughing and belittling the loss of life in a phone conversation, remarks that triggered national criticism and intensified calls for accountability. Auderer was later terminated in 2024.
Criminal case outcome and civil penalties
Prosecutors in King County declined to file criminal charges against Dave in February 2024, stating they lacked sufficient evidence to prove a criminal case beyond a reasonable doubt. The matter proceeded as a traffic infraction for second-degree negligent driving, which resulted in a $5,000 fine.
The wrongful-death lawsuit brought by Kandula’s family initially sought $110 million. Friday’s settlement closes the civil case with the $29,011,000 payout, which the family and their attorney framed as a measure of accountability after years of grief and public scrutiny.
Family statement and city response
“We hope this resolution reflects the seriousness of what was lost and underscores the value of her life,” Kandula’s family said in a statement, describing her as “cherished beyond measure” with a future “full of promise.”
City Attorney Erika Evans called Kandula’s death “heartbreaking” and said leaders hope the settlement brings “some sense of closure” while recognizing the “unimaginable pain” left in its wake. “Jaahnavi Kandula’s life mattered. It mattered to her family, to her friends, and to our community,” Evans said.
Community push for reforms
The case galvanized advocacy groups and community leaders who have urged clearer training and stricter policies around vehicle speed, use of emergency equipment, and risk assessment when responding to calls in dense urban corridors. “It’s not fair to say you fire an officer and that takes care of things,” said community leader Lalita Uppala, who pressed for detailed guidelines rather than one-off disciplinary actions.
For those advocates, the settlement offers accountability but not closure on policy. They contend that preventing another tragedy requires transparent standards for pursuits and emergency responses — and consistent enforcement — so that responders weigh urgency against the heightened risk to pedestrians and bystanders.
As the city finalizes the agreement and the family moves forward, the broader conversation continues around how to align emergency response practices with public safety on streets where a split-second decision behind the wheel can have irreversible consequences.
