An Indiana appeals court stripped Rebecca Johnson of her role as co-personal representative of Shane Fields' estate, placing his adult daughter, Hailey Daniels, in sole command of a contested Kentucky wrongful-death action.
Published on November 12, the appellate decision affirmed a lower court ruling that removed Johnson after she repeatedly defied judicial directives, sidelined Daniels, and stalled legal claims stemming from the fatal January 31, 2025 crash that killed Fields while on the job for R&S Excavating.
The family fought bitterly.
Fields left behind modest personal property. But his estate holds one massive asset: a potential multi-million-dollar wrongful-death claim arising from the fatal Kentucky highway collision. That claim quickly pitted Fields' surviving wife, Breanna, whom he married in 2023, against his adult daughters and sons. Johnson, a close family friend handpicked by Breanna, secured co-representative status alongside Daniels in July 2025. Then the estate ground to a halt.
The fracture centered on legal representation. National personal injury powerhouse Morgan and Morgan filed a wrongful-death complaint in Kentucky on July 23, 2025, listing Johnson as sole plaintiff on behalf of the estate. An amended complaint filed on August 5 added Breanna as an individual plaintiff. Yet Daniels refused to retain the firm, pushing instead for local attorney Robert Miles and his firm, Kolb Roellgen & Traylor LLP.
Fee structures divided the representatives. Morgan and Morgan pitched a 30% contingency cut that could escalate dramatically during appellate phases. Kolb Roellgen & Traylor offered a flat 33% contingency fee. When Daniels and Johnson deadlocked, the trial court intervened and formally ordered the estate to hire Miles' firm.
Johnson resisted. She filed motions challenging the judge's selection and sought permission to appeal the appointment, refusing to sign the retainer contract unless Miles teamed up with outside counsel.
Suspicion escalated beyond the courtroom battle over attorneys. In September 2025, Johnson filed an estate property inventory without Daniels' knowledge or consent. Daniels alerted the court that the filing concealed tangible assets—including an iPhone, several firearms, and a gun safe.
Court records revealed further irregularities around Fields' wages at R&S Excavating. Paychecks were allegedly issued under his wife Breanna's name, an arrangement suspected of shielding Fields' ongoing workers' compensation payments from a former employer. Daniels filed a formal police report over the payroll maneuver, while Johnson contacted R&S's insurer regarding death benefits.
Compounding the friction, Johnson's husband worked as Fields' direct supervisor at R&S Excavating. Johnson acknowledged during proceedings that pursuing wrongful-death claims against the firm risked jeopardizing her husband's livelihood.
| Case Parameter | Legal & Administrative Detail |
|---|---|
| Deceased | Shane Fields (Died Jan 31, 2025 in Kentucky) |
| Confirmed Heirs | Breanna Fields (Spouse), Hailey Daniels, Paige Fields, Ryann Fields, Landon Patterson, Elijah Barnhart |
| Selected Law Firm | Kolb Roellgen & Traylor LLP (Fixed 33% Contingency) |
| Displaced Law Firm | Morgan and Morgan (30% Escalating Contingency) |
| Trial Court Removal Order | March 4, 2026 (Affirmed Nov 12, 2026) |
Following an ultimatum at a January hearing, the trial court officially ousted Johnson on March 4, cancelled all unilateral contracts she signed, ratified the Kolb Roellgen & Traylor retainer, and ordered an immediate final accounting of all estate documents.
Johnson appealed, arguing that under Indiana statute, a surviving spouse's nominee commands strict statutory priority to administer an estate. The Indiana Court of Appeals dismissed that defense.
The dispute had delayed the wrongful-death and workers' compensation claims... Johnson's conduct went beyond a disagreement between co-representatives.
Indiana Court of Appeals, Written Opinion
Judges ruled that while Breanna's nomination carried initial priority, trial courts retain absolute discretion to purge fiduciaries who sabotage estate administration or flout explicit judicial orders. Johnson was required to follow court directions unless stayed by an appellate bench.
Pursuant to the affirmed March 4 decree, Daniels now holds sole authority to execute final accountings and prosecute the Kentucky wrongful-death litigation against R&S Excavating.