Lisa Baron and Matt Knight obtained a verdict for the Defendant City of Mishawaka in St. Joseph County Circuit Court on August 21, 2025. The case involved a police pursuit which was initiated after a suspected felon fled on foot from responding officers, was observed grabbing at his waistband, and continued his flight by getting into the rear passenger side of a waiting vehicle. A traffic stop was initiated by officers, but the suspect vehicle proceeded to take off ignoring the lights and sirens. The pursuit lasted 29 seconds and traveled a ½ mile before the suspect vehicle ran a stop sign resulting in a collision with a third-party vehicle which claimed the life of two teenagers. The case was tried over 3 days, and the jury returned a verdict for the Defendant.
Johnson-Neher v. City of Mishawaka, Cause No. 71C01-2210-CT-406