Group seeks to have gag order lifted in Etowah County lawsuit

A national group is getting involved in an Etowah County lawsuit. The group Public Citizen filed a petition monday urging the Alabama Supreme Court to lift a gag order issued on January 7th in a case against a local extermination company. More than 100 customers of A-1 Extermination in Gadsden have sued the company for allegedly promising - but not providing - effective termite treatment. Etowah County Circuit Judge William Rhea issued the gag order forbidding anyone involved with the lawsuit from speaking - either publicly or privately - about the suit. The petition seeking the removal of the order claims that Rhea's order is impermissible under the First Amendment and was issued without giving the Plaintiff's lawyers an opportunity to be heard.