VALPARAISO | A judge has ordered the Hebron Dollar General store to refrain from making any changes so as not to interfere with an investigation into the possibility that a former employee may have contracted Legionnaires disease at the site.

Robert Conrad was diagnosed with the disease and is currently disabled and unable to work, according to the request to preserve evidence filed by Dyer attorney Kevin Smith.

Conrad suspects he may have contracted the disease as a result of moisture in the building that resulted from the installation of air conditioning units in January, according to the suit. Rain water began leaking into the building in April and there was moisture, fungus and bacteria, the suit says.

Conrad has not sued over his illness, but said a suit may be filed in the near future.

Tawn Earnest, senior director of corporate communications for Dollar General, was not familiar with the case and said the company typically does not comment on litigation.

Legionnaires' disease is caused by a bacteria found mostly in water, according to the Centers for Disease and Prevention.

Symptoms are similar to pneumonia. While most cases can be treated with antibiotics, death can result 5 to 30 percent of the time, according to the center.

The Dollar General store in question is located at 814 Country Square Plaza in Hebron.

The order to preserve evidence, which was issued by Porter Superior Judge Roger Bradford, applies to carpeting, water, waste, debris, dust or other materials in the heating and air conditioning units, ceiling tiles, video recordings and repair records.