VIDALIA, La. – Seventh Judicial District Judge Kathy Johnson placed a protective order on Ferriday’s water plant Wednesday at the request of attorneys for a woman suing the town and its engineers.

The order states the town must save all information relating to the plant and cannot discard or destroy any parts from the plant until a lawsuit Gloria Martello filed against the town and its engineers is resolved or Johnson rules otherwise.

Martello filed suit Oct. 25 against the town and engineers Owen and White of Baton Rouge, which designed the plant, claiming their negligence caused the plant to break down. A boil-water notice in effect since Aug. 20 has caused residents and business owners in the town stress and inconvenience, she said.

&uot;We just want to go see what’s been done at the plant as part of our investigation, and maybe take some photos and make some videotapes,&uot;&160;said one of Martello’s attorneys, Chuck Norris of Vidalia. Martello would not comment.

Lawyers for all parties involved, photographers and videographers and possibly state health officials will inspect the plant the week of Nov. 29. The visit is not expected to take more than two hours, said Linda S. Harang of New Orleans, also one of Martello’s attorneys.

&uot;We hope this is the only time we have to go out there,&uot;&160;Harang said. &uot;We don’t want to get in the way.&uot;

John Sturgeon, attorney for the Town of Ferriday, has expressed concern that the order could delay plant repairs and upgrades, some of which are needed before the Office of Public Health can consider lifting the boil-water notice.

Neither Ferriday Mayor Odeal Montgomery or Sturgeon were in court when Johnson granted the order, and neither could be reached for comment Wednesday evening.

Under the order, anyone working on the plant after Aug. 20 must provide all parties to the suit with a written description of the work.

The town must send Martello’s lawyers a list of people and companies performing such work so they can be sent copies of the order.

Also, the town must set aside a place to keep discarded parts from the plant and designate one or two people to be the custodians of the storage facility.