February 12, 2026 — Justice for Jaahnavi Kandula :Three years after a tragedy that shook the Indian diaspora and sparked international condemnation, the city of Seattle has finalized a record-breaking $29 million (approx. ₹262 crore) settlement with the family of Jaahnavi Kandula.
Jaahnavi, a 23-year-old master’s student from Andhra Pradesh, was struck and killed by a speeding police cruiser in January 2023. While the financial settlement marks a legal conclusion to the wrongful death lawsuit, the emotional scars remain raw for a community that viewed the case as a litmus test for the value of an immigrant’s life in America.
The Justice for Jaahnavi Kandula Incident: A Life Cut Short at 74 MPH.
On the evening of January 23, 2023, Jaahnavi Kandula was crossing a street near the Northeastern University campus in South Lake Union. She was in a marked crosswalk, just months away from completing her degree in Information Systems.
At the same moment, Officer Kevin Dave was responding to a “priority one” drug overdose call. According to investigators, Dave was traveling at 74 mph in a 25 mph zone. While his emergency lights were on, he was not using a continuous siren, instead “chirping” it as he approached intersections.
The impact was catastrophic. Jaahnavi was thrown over 100 feet, and despite the efforts of first responders, she succumbed to her injuries.
“Limited Value”: The Footage That Sparked Global Outrage
While the crash itself was a tragedy, the subsequent release of body-camera footage from another officer, Daniel Auderer, transformed the incident into a global scandal.
Auderer, then-Vice President of the Seattle Police Officers Guild, was caught on video laughing and joking about the accident while on a phone call with the union president. In the recording, Auderer can be heard saying:
- “But she is dead.”
- “She was 26 anyway” (misstating her age).
- “She had limited value.”
- “Just write a check. $11,000.”
These remarks ignited massive protests in both Seattle and India. Indian diplomats in San Francisco and New Delhi formally called for a deep-dive investigation, and the phrase “Jaahnavi’s Life Matters” became a rallying cry for student activists worldwide.
The Legal Fallout: Firing, Fines, and Lawsuits
The path to this week’s settlement was paved with significant disciplinary and legal shifts within the Seattle Police Department (SPD).
- Officer Kevin Dave (The Driver): Fired from the SPD on January 6, 2025. While King County prosecutors declined to file felony charges—citing an inability to prove “reckless disregard” under Washington law—he was cited for negligent driving and ordered to pay a $5,000 fine.
- Officer Daniel Auderer (The Union Leader): Fired in July 2024 by Interim Police Chief Sue Rahr, who called his comments “irreparable” to the department’s reputation. Auderer has since filed a $25 million wrongful termination lawsuit against the city, claiming his remarks were “taken out of context.”
- The Settlement: The Kandula family’s original lawsuit sought $110 million plus $11,000—the latter figure being a direct, stinging reference to Auderer’s callous joke. The final $29 million agreement, reached on February 12, 2026, will be partially covered by the city’s insurance.
A Community’s Response: “Closure is Not Justice”
Seattle City Attorney Erika Evans, who took office earlier this year, issued a somber statement following the court filing:
“Jaahnavi Kandula’s death was heartbreaking. We hope this financial settlement brings some sense of closure. Her life mattered—to her family, to her friends, and to our community.”
For the Kandula family in India, the money is a secondary concern. Jaahnavi’s mother, who raised her as a single parent in Andhra Pradesh, has previously stated that no amount of money could replace her daughter’s “limitless potential.”
Jaahnavi was posthumously awarded her master’s degree by Northeastern University in 2024, a small gesture to honor the dream that brought her to America—a dream that was tragically silenced on a dark Seattle street.
Timeline of the Jaahnavi Kandula Case
| Date | Event |
| Jan 23, 2023 | Jaahnavi is struck and killed by Officer Kevin Dave. |
| Sept 11, 2023 | Body-cam footage of Officer Auderer laughing at the death is released. |
| Feb 21, 2024 | Prosecutors decline to file felony charges against Kevin Dave. |
| July 17, 2024 | Officer Daniel Auderer is officially fired from the SPD. |
| Jan 6, 2025 | Officer Kevin Dave is fired from the SPD. |
| Feb 12, 2026 | Seattle reaches a $29 million settlement with the family. |
Disclaimer: This information is based on various inputs from news agency.