Sarah L. Shake v. State of Indiana

• Court: Indiana Court of Appeals
• Decided: October 28, 2025
• Docket: 25A-CT-01006
• Status: Published

Opinion

FILED Oct 28 2025, 9:11 am

CLERK Indiana Supreme Court Court of Appeals and Tax Court

IN THE

Court of Appeals of Indiana Sarah L. Shake, Appellant-Plaintiff

v.

State of Indiana and Kenneth Rogers, Appellees-Defendants

October 28, 2025 Court of Appeals Case No. 25A-CT-1006 Appeal from the Marion Superior Court The Honorable John M. T. Chavis, II, Judge Trial Court Cause No. 49D05-2305-CT-19915

Opinion by Judge Brown Judges Felix and Scheele concur.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 25A-CT-1006 | October 28, 2025 Page 1 of 11 Brown, Judge.

[1] Sarah L. Shake appeals the trial court’s entry of summary judgment in favor of

the State on her negligence claim. We affirm.

Facts and Procedural History

[2] The designated evidence indicates that on May 19, 2021, Indiana State Police

Trooper Daniel Organ was on routine patrol in Terre Haute, traveling north on

Lafayette Avenue in his fully marked police cruiser. He observed a white U-

Haul pickup truck (the “Truck”) traveling south towards him “in excess of the

posted speed limit of 30 miles per hour.” Appellant’s Appendix Volume II at

67. After confirming with radar that the Truck was traveling in excess of the

speed limit, Trooper Organ turned his police cruiser around, activated his

emergency lights and sirens, and attempted to conduct a traffic stop. However,

the Truck “accelerated and turned down an alley between 16th Street and 17th

Street.” Id. After turning down the alley, the Truck “drove over brick and

wood structures which were blocking the alley and through multiple residential

backyards.” Id. at 68. At that point, Trooper Organ “determined that [he]

could no longer safely pursue the [Truck] and terminated the pursuit of the

vehicle pursuant to relevant Indiana State Police pursuit policies.” Id. While

still in the alley, Trooper Organ “lost sight of the vehicle.” Id. Trooper Organ

did not follow the Truck over the wood structures but advised dispatch, “He’s

going to be coming back out on Lafayette. It’s a white U-Haul pickup truck.

He’s going to be going south on Lafayette.” Appellant’s Brief at 6 (citing

Dashboard Camera Video 1:09/3:00). Dispatch repeated the direction of the Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 25A-CT-1006 | October 28, 2025 Page 2 of 11 Truck and stated, “You’re in pursuit of the vehicle,” and Trooper Organ

responded, “Affirmative, I lost him. He went through an alley and through

some bushes. It’s a white male; he’s got a hat on . . . .” Id. (citing Dashboard

Camera Video at 1:16/3:00).

[3] After losing sight of the Truck, Trooper Organ kept his emergency lights

activated but turned his sirens off as he backed out of the alley and proceeded to

go south down Lafayette Avenue. Approximately one minute after leaving the

alley, Trooper Organ turned his vehicle around in the opposite direction and re-

activated his sirens in response to witnesses pointing him in the direction of

Florida Avenue where the Truck had traveled. Trooper Organ traveled to

Florida Avenue and then turned west. Shortly thereafter, Trooper Organ came

upon the scene of an accident involving the Truck and a vehicle driven by

Shake at the intersection of 13th Street and Elizabeth Street. The driver of the

Truck was identified as Kenneth Rogers. Prior to the accident, Shake did not

recall seeing any police vehicles or hearing any sirens. The State subsequently

charged Rogers with nine criminal counts including: resisting law enforcement

as a level 5 felony, operating a vehicle with a schedule I or II substance in blood

as a level 5 felony, two counts of resisting law enforcement as level 6 felonies,

possession of methamphetamine as a level 6 felony, unlawful possession of a

syringe as a level 6 felony, reckless driving as a class C misdemeanor, driving

while suspended as a class A infraction, and possession of marijuana as a class

B misdemeanor.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 25A-CT-1006 | October 28, 2025 Page 3 of 11 [4] On May 18, 2023, Shake filed a complaint for damages against the State and

Rogers. Shake alleged that Rogers “disregarded the stop sign for his direction

of travel . . . and violently collided with the vehicle operated by [her].”

Appellant’s Appendix Volume II at 23. She alleged that “prior to the

aforementioned collision, [Trooper Organ] was patrolling in Vigo County” and

after attempting to “conduct a traffic stop” of Rogers’s vehicle that Rogers

disregarded, a “pursuit then ensued.” Id. She alleged that Trooper Organ, who

was employed by and acting within the course and scope of employment with

the Indiana State Police, 1 chased Rogers “through residential neighborhoods,

even though [he] knew or should have known . . . that the continued chase of

Rogers . . . posed an extreme and unnecessary risk of injury to innocent

motorists such as [herself].” Id. at 24. Shake alleged that she “sustained serious

bodily injuries and damages” as “a direct and proximate result of the negligence

of the Defendants.” Id. at 25.

[5] On December 5, 2024, the State filed a motion for summary judgment and

designation of evidence. On February 3, 2025, Shake filed her response in

opposition to summary judgment and designation of evidence. On February

25, 2025, the State filed its reply.

1 The complaint alleged that “Indiana State Police (‘ISP’) is a political subdivision of the State of Indiana and was headquartered in Marion County, Indiana, at all times pertinent to this cause.” Appellant’s Appendix Volume II at 22.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 25A-CT-1006 | October 28, 2025 Page 4 of 11 [6] The court held a summary judgment hearing on February 26, 2025. On March

28, 2025, the court issued a detailed order granting the State’s motion. Among

other things, the court found that:

Trooper Organ’s actions during the time he was in pursuit of Defendant Rogers cannot be said to have been the proximate cause of Shake’s injuries and therefore negligent. Trooper Organ observed a speeding vehicle on Lafayette Avenue that posed a danger to the motoring public and he proceeded to apprehend it. As soon as Trooper Organ determined that the pursuit was no longer safe due to Defendant Rogers[’s] reckless driving, he terminated the pursuit. The collision involving Shake also did not occur at the location where Tropper Organ terminated the pursuit. Defendant Rogers continued to drive recklessly despite not being pursued by Trooper Organ. Roger[s]’s actions are the sole proximate cause of the collision.

Id. at 19-20 (record citations omitted). The court noted that, “Shake testified

that she did not recall seeing any police vehicles nor did she hear any sirens

prior to the collision” and the “fact that Trooper Organ was far away from the

collision when it occurred . . . also demonstrates that Trooper Organ’s actions

are not the proximate cause of the collision.” Id. at 20. The court further

explained:

In order for Trooper Organ’s actions to be a proximate cause, Trooper Organ would have had to been able to foresee the danger the initiation of the pursuit posed to Shake in particular and there is no evidence that Shake was anywhere near the pursuit prior to the time that Trooper Organ terminated it. Because the collision was not foreseeable to Trooper Organ while he was initiating and conducting the pursuit, Trooper Organ’s

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 25A-CT-1006 | October 28, 2025 Page 5 of 11 actions are not the proximate cause of the collision and the State Defendant is entitled to summary judgment.

Id. Finding no reason for delay, the court entered final judgment pursuant to

Ind. Trial Rules 54(B) and 56(C).

Discussion

[7] Shake contends that the trial court erred in entering summary judgment in favor

of the State. Our standard of review is well settled. Summary judgment is

appropriate only where there is no genuine issue of material fact and the

moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Ind. Trial Rule 56(C);

Mangold ex rel. Mangold v. Ind. Dep’t of Natural Res., 756 N.E.2d 970, 973 (Ind.

2001). Our review is de novo, drawing all reasonable inferences from the

evidence in favor of the nonmovant. Ind. Dep’t of Ins. v. Doe, 247 N.E.3d 1204,

1210 (Ind. 2024) (citing Hughley v. State, 15 N.E.3d 1000, 1003 (Ind. 2014)). “A

fact is ‘material’ if its resolution would affect the outcome of the case, and an

issue is ‘genuine’ if a trier of fact is required to resolve the parties’ differing

accounts of the truth . . . .” Williams v. Tharp, 914 N.E.2d 756, 761 (Ind. 2009).

In reviewing a trial court’s ruling on a motion for summary judgment, we may

affirm on any grounds supported by the Indiana Trial Rule 56 designated

materials. Catt v. Bd. of Commr’s of Knox Cnty., 779 N.E.2d 1, 3 (Ind. 2002).

[8] The party appealing the trial court’s summary judgment determination bears

the burden of persuading the appellate court the ruling was erroneous. Ryan v.

TCI Architects/Eng’rs/Contractors, Inc., 72 N.E.3d 908, 913 (Ind. 2017). In the

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 25A-CT-1006 | October 28, 2025 Page 6 of 11 summary judgment context, we are not bound by the trial court’s specific

findings of fact and conclusions of law. Rice v. Strunk, 670 N.E.2d 1280, 1283

(Ind. 1996). They merely aid our review by providing us with a statement of

reasons for the trial court’s actions. Id.

[9] Shake contends that Trooper Organ, while acting within the course and scope

of employment with the State, was negligent. “The elements of negligence are

duty, breach of duty, and damages proximately caused by the breach.” Hellums

v. Raber, 853 N.E.2d 143, 145-146 (Ind. Ct. App. 2006). Here, the parties’

dispute focuses on the element of proximate cause. 2 “A negligent act or

omission is the proximate cause of an injury if the injury is a natural and

probable consequence which, in light of the circumstances, should reasonably

have been foreseen or anticipated.” Gates v. Riley ex rel. Riley, 723 N.E.2d 946,

950 (Ind. Ct. App. 2000), trans. denied. In other words, “[p]roximate cause

requires that there be a reasonable connection between the defendant’s allegedly

negligent conduct and the plaintiff’s damages.” Id. Although the question of

proximate cause is one usually left to the jury, Rhodes v. Wright, 805 N.E.2d

382, 388 (Ind. 2004), the determination of proximate cause may be made as a

matter of law. Hassan v. Begley, 836 N.E.2d 303, 307 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005), reh’g

denied.

2 In entering summary judgment, the trial court found as a matter of law that Trooper Organ’s actions were not a proximate cause of Shake’s injuries. Although the State urges on appeal that the designated evidence negated both the duty element and the proximate cause element of Shake’s negligence claim, we agree with the trial court’s analysis regarding proximate cause and choose to solely address that element.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 25A-CT-1006 | October 28, 2025 Page 7 of 11 [10] As did the trial court, we find Bailey v. L. W. Edison Charitable Found. of Grand

Rapids, Inc., 152 Ind. App. 460, 284 N.E.2d 141 (1972), instructive. In Bailey,

City of Gary police officers attempted to pursue a vehicle after observing it run

a red light at 75-80 miles per hour. Bailey, 152 Ind. App. at 462, 284 N.E.2d at

142. The officers were unable to keep up with the speeding vehicle and

ultimately lost sight of it. Id. at 463, 284 N.E.2d at 143. Eventually, the officers

came upon the vehicle after it had crashed, killing the passengers. Id. The

decedents’ parents filed complaints against the City and the officers alleging,

among other things, that the officers “negligently and unreasonably engaged in

a highspeed pursuit of the car in which their deceased sons were passengers”

and that such negligence “was the direct and proximate cause of the death of

their sons.” Id. at 462, 284 N.E.2d at 142. The City and the officers moved for

summary judgment, which the trial court granted. Id.

[11] On appeal, in considering the liability of the officers for the accident caused by

the fleeing vehicle, this Court agreed with “the great weight of authority from

other jurisdictions” and concluded that “police, if engaging in a reasonable

pursuit, cannot be said to be the proximate cause of accidents caused by

escaping law violators.” Id. at 467, 284 N.E.2d at 145 (providing compilation

of cases). Indeed, we observed that police officers “cannot be made insurers of

the conduct of the culprits they chase,” and that our conclusion was in line with

the principle that “[t]he act of the party sought to be charged is not to be

regarded as a proximate cause unless it is in clear sequence with the result and

unless it could have reasonably been anticipated that the consequences

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 25A-CT-1006 | October 28, 2025 Page 8 of 11 complained of would result from the alleged wrongful act.” Id. at 468-469, 284

N.E.2d at 146 (citation omitted). The Bailey Court also observed:

With regard to whether the officers negligently and proximately caused the death of the occupants of the car, the affidavits filed by the parties, as hereinabove set forth, show the existence of disputed fact, to-wit: Whether at the time of the accident, the officers were pursuing the fleeing vehicle.

This fact, although in dispute, has no bearing on the negligence of the officers. Even assuming the officers were in full pursuit at the time of the accident, there is presented no genuine issue of fact as to the officers’ negligence in maintaining such pursuit. The issue is not whether the police were in pursuit of an escaping car. The issue is whether the police officers, in pursuing the car, were negligent and the proximate cause of the death of plaintiffs’ sons.

Id. at 465, 284 N.E.2d at 144. Applying this framework, we affirmed the entry

of summary judgment, determining “as a matter of law that the pursuit was

reasonable” and that the police officers’ “pursuit cannot be said to be the

proximate cause of the death of the passengers of a vehicle which ran a red light

at 75 miles per hour and refused to stop when the police gave chase.” Id. at

469, 284 N.E.2d at 146.

[12] Here, the undisputed designated evidence shows that Trooper Organ acted

reasonably when pursuing Rogers. Trooper Organ observed a speeding vehicle,

and when he tried to initiate a traffic stop, Rogers chose to flee and evade.

Trooper Organ was in active pursuit of the Truck for approximately twenty

seconds before terminating the pursuit when he did not continue following

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 25A-CT-1006 | October 28, 2025 Page 9 of 11 Rogers as he recklessly drove over wooden structures and through residential

backyards. Trooper Organ provided dispatch with Rogers’s last known location

and indicated that he had “lost him.” Appellant’s Brief at 6 (citing Dashboard

Camera Video at 1:16/3:00). After backing out of the alley, Trooper Organ

then traveled in the opposite direction before being directed by witnesses to turn

around in the direction where the Truck had traveled. Trooper Organ stated

that he did not see the Truck again until he eventually came upon the aftermath

of the collision with Shake. Indeed, Trooper Organ did not arrive at the

intersection where the collision occurred until approximately one minute after

he lost Rogers and terminated pursuit in the alley. Shake confirmed that she

neither saw any police vehicles nor heard sirens prior to the collision. 3

[13] Under the circumstances, as in Bailey, we conclude as a matter of law that

Trooper Organ’s reasonable pursuit of the Truck cannot be said to be the

proximate cause of Shake’s injuries. Rogers evaded Trooper Organ’s attempt at

a traffic stop, and he continued to drive recklessly even after he was clearly no

longer being actively followed by Trooper Organ. Accordingly, it was the

reckless manner in which Rogers chose to continue driving his vehicle that was

the sole proximate cause of the accident, not Trooper Organ’s pursuit. See

Smith v. Ciesielski, 975 F. Supp. 2d 930, 944 (S.D. Ind. 2013) (citing Bailey and

observing that “Indiana law establishes that [police] officers can be held liable

only for their unreasonable conduct, and not the negligence or recklessness of

3 As already noted, Trooper Organ had reactivated his sirens prior to arriving at the accident scene.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 25A-CT-1006 | October 28, 2025 Page 10 of 11 the suspects they were pursuing”). We conclude that the trial court properly

entered summary judgment in favor of the State.

[14] For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

[15] Affirmed.

Felix, J., and Scheele, J., concur.

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT Jeremy S. Baber Vaughn A. Wamsley, P.C. Carmel, Indiana

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEES Theodore E. Rokita Attorney General of Indiana Abigail R. Recker Deputy Attorney General Indianapolis, Indiana

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 25A-CT-1006 | October 28, 2025 Page 11 of 11