Archdiocese of Mobile awarded $25 million over termite damage at cathedral

The Archdiocese of Mobile, Alabama, has been awarded more than $25 million in a dispute with a termite company after a panel found that the company provided “deficient treatments” against termites on archdiocesan property.

A press release from the law firm of Alabama attorney Tom Campbell said an arbitration panel ordered Terminix to pay $25,878,087.84 to the archdiocese over “clear and convincing evidence of fraud and systemic misconduct.”

Terminix “knew it was required to provide additional termite treatment services” at archdiocesan properties but “failed to disclose or perform them,” according to the press release.

Significant damage occurred at the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Mobile, according to the panel. Over the course of eight years from 2018, the cathedral experienced “multiple termite infestations, causing substantial structural damage in multiple locations.”

The damage was severe enough that the archdiocese closed a portion of the cathedral in April 2025. At the time the archdiocese said it was “in ongoing arbitration with a major termite control company regarding damage to the cathedral.”

The eight-figure payout includes $8.6 million in punitive damages, the law firm said.

Campbell, known locally as “Termite Tom” for his specialty focus on termite litigation, said the ruling demonstrates a pattern in which consumers “paid for protection that was never properly delivered.”

“If Terminix will cheat a church, it will swindle anyone,” the attorney said.

The termite company, meanwhile, told EWTN News in a statement that it “acknowledge[d] the resolution of this long-standing case … involving a unique, historic structure.”

“While we respect the arbitration process, we are disappointed with the specific outcomes and maintain our position regarding these past events,” the company said, adding that its “focus remains on supporting our team members and providing exceptional care to our customers.”

Terminix says on its website that Alabama is among the worst states in the country for termite infestations, ranking 11 out of the 25 most termite-heavy states. Half of the top 10 worst states are in the southern U.S.