Former Linton Utilities Operations Manager Brent Murray has filed a civil lawsuit against the City of Linton and Mayor John Preble, alleging that statements accusing him of directing city workers to deliver city-owned gravel to a private site were false and damaged his reputation and career.

The complaint—filed Tuesday, Nov. 11–asserts three claims: slander per se, libel per se and false light. Murray seeks $150,000 for reputational and income losses, $35,000 for emotional distress, and $555,000 in punitive damages, plus interest, attorney fees and other relief.

Background and employment history

According to the complaint, Murray has lived in Linton most of his life and worked for the city for 11 years–August 2014–September 2025–as Utilities Operations Manager, supervising 36 employees and overseeing outdoor operations such as trash collection and wastewater processing. According to court documents his most recent performance review, dated Dec. 31, 2024, rated him as meeting expectations, noting strong knowledge, communication and punctuality. A few months before his termination, Mayor Preble additionally named him the city’s ADA Director, with a $1.50/hour increase.

Alleged accusation and termination

The filing states that on Aug. 29, in a private meeting, Mayor Preble asked Murray if he had stolen gravel from the city, which Murray denied. On Sept. 12, 2025, Murray met with Preble and Utilities General Manager Brent Slover at City Hall, where Preble presented a dismissal letter. That letter, quoted in the complaint, stated that on Aug. 14, 2025, Murray “directed city employees to load city property (gravel) onto a city vehicle and have it delivered to your private site at the Shrine Club,” calling the alleged conduct “theft of city property and misuse of city assets” and ordering immediate termination.

During a phone interview with Mayor Preble on Nov. 11, he stated, “No action was taken without verification and evidence.”

Murray refused to sign the letter, calling the statements false. The complaint says Preble claimed to have photographs of a vehicle leaving the city yard at 409 S. Main St. with gravel and later returning empty, headed generally west toward the Greene County Shrine Club, of which Murray is a member. The filing states those images do not show gravel being delivered or unloaded at the Shrine Club or identify the driver or vehicle type. It also notes that, by standard protocol, employees could take gravel from city yards for work purposes without Murray’s prior approval.

Between Sept. 13–15, Murray turned in badges, cleared his office, and returned his work vehicle. He says the city paid his accrued time off and ceased paychecks, and that no exit interview or termination paperwork was provided.

Publication of the allegations

The complaint alleges that Preble shared the accusations with Slover and later with the three foremen who reported to Murray, and that “word spread quickly around town,” harming Murray’s reputation. It further claims that the statements were communicated to County Commissioner Rick Graves and that foreman Thomas Bailey relayed them to former Mayor John Wilkes. Murray contends he suffered stress, anxiety, humiliation, sleep loss and a weight loss of more than 12 pounds following his termination.

Damages sought

Murray asks the court to award:

$150,000 in compensatory damages for reputational harm and lost income,
$35,000 for personal humiliation and emotional distress,
$555,000 in punitive damages (citing Indiana’s punitive-damages statute),
plus pre- and post-judgment interest, attorney fees, and costs. He also demands a jury trial.

Additional context from the complaint

The city stores gravel outdoors at its yard, where Murray’s office is located.
The alleged vehicle headed west; the complaint notes many legitimate city destinations lie in that direction, including utility facilities about a mile outside Linton, and that the Shrine Club is 3–4 miles farther west.
The filing states no one has identified the vehicle’s operator, the quantity or value of the gravel, or explained why Murray would steal gravel for a nonprofit in which he holds no current leadership or ownership interest. He served as club president in 1999.
On Oct. 29, Murray’s counsel sent a demand letter to the defendants, and on Nov. 4, the defendants, through counsel, declined to make a settlement offer, according to the complaint.