**The city of Seattle** has reached a settlement of **$29 million** (approximately ₹262 crore) with the family of 23-year-old Indian graduate student **Jhanvi Kandula**. Jhanvi Kandula died after being hit by a speeding police car in South Lake Union on January 23, 2023. The settlement, to be announced around February 10-12, 2026, resolves a wrongful death lawsuit filed in September 2024 against the city and former officer **Kevin Dave** seeking more than $110 million in damages. This is one of Seattle’s largest settlements in a police negligence case.
**City Attorney Erica Evans** said: “The death of Jahnvi Kandula was heartbreaking, and the City hopes this financial settlement will provide some comfort to the Kandula family. Jahnvi Kandula’s life mattered. It mattered to her family, her friends, and our community.” About $20 million will be covered by city insurance, with the city paying the rest directly.
Kandula, who hails from Andhra Pradesh (Kurnool district), was pursuing her Masters in Information Systems at Northeastern University’s Seattle campus after coming from Bengaluru in 2021. She was crossing a marked crosswalk when Dave, responding to a call of a drug overdose, drove at 74 mph (119 km/h) in a 25 mph (40 km/h) zone, with lights and sirens activated at the intersection, and hit her.
The case sparked worldwide outrage in 2023 when bodycam footage captured Officer **Daniel Orderer** laughing and saying that Kandula’s life had “limited value”, and suggesting the city should “just write a check”. A civilian oversight body found that his remarks undermined public confidence; He was fired from his job and later sued for wrongful termination, claiming that his comments criticized a potential legal strategy.
Dave is fired from his job, charged with reckless driving, and fined $5,000. King County prosecutors declined to pursue felony charges, citing the inability to prove criminal intent.
The agreement ends a years-long battle, and provides financial relief amid an ongoing investigation into police accountability for high-speed response.
Comments are closed.