Seattle settles Jaahnavi Kandula wrongful death
Analysis based on 39 articles · First reported Feb 12, 2026 · Last updated Feb 12, 2026
The $29 million settlement by United States — Seattle will impact the city's finances, with $20 million covered by insurance and the remainder paid directly by the municipality. This event highlights the financial risks associated with police negligence and wrongful death lawsuits for municipalities and their insurers.
The city of United States — Seattle has reached a $29 million settlement with the family of Killing of Jaahnavi Kandula, a 23-year-old Indian graduate student who was killed in January 2023 after being struck by a speeding United States — Seattle police patrol vehicle driven by Officer Kevin Dave. The incident occurred while Dave was responding to an emergency call, driving at speeds up to 119 kph in a 40 kph zone. The settlement resolves a wrongful death and negligence lawsuit filed in United States — Whatcom County, Washington Superior Court. The case gained significant attention due to the circumstances of the crash and the subsequent release of body-camera footage showing another officer, Killing of Jaahnavi Kandula, making insensitive remarks about Kandula's death, which led to his firing and a wrongful termination lawsuit against United States — Seattle. United States — Whatcom County, Washington prosecutors declined to file felony charges against Kevin Dave, who was cited for negligent driving and fined. The settlement is one of the largest in United States — Seattle's history for police-related wrongful death cases.
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