A former City of Monticello employee has sued the city, a co-worker, and a department superintendent over an alleged incident at a city-owned building at 208 East Marion Street. According to the Monticello Herald Journal[1], Cybill A. Richey reported that the complaint was filed on August 14, 2026, in White County Circuit Court.
The report identifies the plaintiff as Benjamin Knight, a former city employee. The named defendants are the City of Monticello, co-worker Angelo Valle Jr., and Water Works Superintendent Bradley Haygood.
What the complaint alleges
The complaint alleges that on August 4, 2025, Valle sprayed gasoline beneath a restroom door while Knight was inside and ignited it with a propane torch. It alleges that Valle continued spraying as the fire burned for 40 to 60 seconds. Knight allegedly heard employees laughing outside and remained inside for another 20 to 25 minutes because he feared a second fire.
The complaint further alleges that Haygood witnessed the incident and did not intervene. Knight allegedly reported the matter to the city’s human resources department the following day, and the city terminated him on November 14, 2025.
The pleaded claims are negligence, assault, false imprisonment, recklessness, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The complaint seeks unspecified damages and demands a jury trial.
These are unproven allegations. The Monticello Herald Journal reported that the defendants had not responded to the complaint as of August 26, 2026. The reporting describes no physical burn injuries and reports no criminal charges.
What you can do after a workplace incident
An injury involving a government employer may involve several legal systems with different deadlines. You can report the incident in writing to your employer and any available internal reporting channel, then keep a dated copy. If human resources prepares a statement, you can ask for a copy and make sure the report identifies any supervisor who was present.
You can also seek an appropriate medical evaluation, including an evaluation for psychological harm when that is the injury involved. Contemporaneous treatment records may help document what you experienced and how it affected you. General information about records to bring to an injury consultation can help you organize the documents you already have.
Evidence can disappear quickly. Security footage may be overwritten, so a timely written preservation request can matter. You can also photograph the location and physical damage when it is safe and lawful to do so, and write down the names of people who were present or nearby. Delventhal Law Office’s guide to evidence preservation in an Indiana injury claim explains why early documentation matters.
Why White County and the city defendant matter
The complaint places the alleged incident in Monticello, and the suit was filed in White County Circuit Court. The city’s presence as a defendant may affect both the governing rules and the deadlines.
Under the Indiana Tort Claims Act, a tort claim against a political subdivision such as a city generally requires written notice within 180 days of the loss under IC 34-13-3-8[2]. A claim against the State generally requires notice within 270 days under IC 34-13-3-6[3]. These notice periods are much shorter than the ordinary two-year deadline for most Indiana personal injury claims under IC 34-11-2-4[4]. The firm’s guide to Indiana government tort claim notices provides additional general information.
Government claims are governed by the Indiana Tort Claims Act rather than the Comparative Fault Act, and any fault attributed to the claimant can bar recovery entirely. For ordinary claims governed by Indiana’s Comparative Fault Act, IC 34-51-2-6[5] generally bars recovery when an injured person’s fault is greater than 50 percent; otherwise, recovery is reduced by that person’s percentage of fault. Intentional-tort allegations can involve a different analysis.
A workplace injury may also raise questions about Indiana workers’ compensation exclusivity. When a complaint alleges intentional conduct by a co-worker or pleads claims beyond an ordinary workplace injury, the legal analysis can become more complicated. The court must resolve those issues in this lawsuit, and nothing in this post predicts the outcome.
How Delventhal Law Office can help
Delventhal Law Office, LLC is a Fort Wayne personal injury law firm founded by attorney Chad E. Delventhal in 2009. The firm helps injured people understand which deadlines may apply, including the short Indiana Tort Claims Act notice period, and how a workers’ compensation claim may interact with a separate civil claim.
If you were hurt at work or in an incident involving a government entity, you can review the firm’s Indiana workers’ compensation services or request a free case evaluation.
This post is based on public reporting, the investigation or court proceedings may be ongoing, and nothing here is legal advice or creates an attorney-client relationship.
