Seattle will pay $29,011,000 to the family of Jaahnavi Kandula, a 23-year-old Indian student who died when hit by a police cruiser in January 2023. Jaahnavi was crossing the street when Officer Kevin Dave, driving at 74 mph in a 25-mph zone, struck her. He was responding to a drug overdose call and used the siren only intermittently. The tragedy turned worse when police union leader Officer Daniel Auderer was recorded laughing about Jaahnavi's death on a phone call, calling her "limited value" and suggesting the city pay only $11,000. This cruel remark sparked outrage. Her family’s lawyers pushed the case beyond the accident, stressing her irreplaceable value as a beloved daughter. They also demanded an extra $11,000 to reject the insult implied by the police official. To avoid a major public backlash, Seattle agreed to the second largest police negligence payout in U.S. history. About $20 million will come from insurance; the city will pay $9 million. After legal fees, the family will receive roughly $18.5 million (about Rs 155 crore). Lawyers noted, “This settlement isn’t just about money. It’s about a city admitting that a life cannot be quantified by a callous joke.” Seattle also recognized, "Jaahnavi Kandula’s life mattered," hoping the settlement offers closure. In India, road accident compensation is much lower and legal processes slower, making this settlement especially notable. Jaahnavi’s mother, Vijaya Lakshmi, who raised her largely alone, recently lost her husband. She now plans to start the Jaahnavi Kandula Memorial Foundation to support student safety and scholarships. Northeastern University posthumously awarded Jaahnavi her Master's degree and created a memorial near the accident site. This case stands as a rare moment of justice and dignity for immigrants in the US.