Subdivision 1. Definition. A "pending civil legal action" includes but is not limited to judicial, administrative or arbitration proceedings. Whether a civil legal action is pending shall be determined by the chief attorney acting for the government entity.
Subd. 2. Civil actions. (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), data collected by a government entity as part of an active investigation undertaken for the purpose of the commencement or defense of a pending civil legal action, or which are retained in anticipation of a pending civil legal action, are classified as protected nonpublic data pursuant to section 13.02, subdivision 13, in the case of data not on individuals and confidential pursuant to section 13.02, subdivision 3, in the case of data on individuals. Any government entity may make any data classified as confidential or protected nonpublic pursuant to this subdivision accessible to any person, agency or the public if the government entity determines that the access will aid the law enforcement process, promote public health or safety or dispel widespread rumor or unrest.
(b) A complainant has access to a statement provided by the complainant to a government entity under paragraph (a).
Subd. 2a. Disclosure of data. During the time when a civil legal action is determined to be pending under subdivision 1, any person may bring an action in the district court in the county where the data are maintained to obtain disclosure of data classified as confidential or protected nonpublic under subdivision 2. The court may order that all or part of the data be released to the public or to the person bringing the action. In making the determination whether data shall be disclosed, the court shall consider whether the benefit to the person bringing the action or to the public outweighs any harm to the public, the government entity, or any person identified in the data. The data in dispute shall be examined by the court in camera.
Subd. 3. Inactive investigative data. Inactive civil investigative data are public, unless the release of the data would jeopardize another pending civil legal action, and except for those portions of a civil investigative file that are classified as not public data by this chapter or other law. Any civil investigative data presented as evidence in court or made part of a court record shall be public. Civil investigative data become inactive upon the occurrence of any of the following events:
(1) a decision by the government entity or by the chief attorney acting for the government entity not to pursue the civil action;
(2) expiration of the time to file a complaint under the statute of limitations or agreement applicable to the civil action; or
(3) exhaustion of or expiration of rights of appeal by either party to the civil action.
Data determined to be inactive under clause (1) may become active if the government entity or its attorney decides to renew the civil action.
Subd. 4. Exclusion. This section does not apply when the sole issue or dispute is a government entity's timeliness in responding to a data request.
1981 c 311 s 22,39; 1982 c 545 s 11,24; 1985 c 298 s 11; 1987 c 351 s 5; 1994 c 618 art 1 s 6,7; 2007 c 129 s 14-17; 2008 c 315 s 8,9; 2012 c 290 s 20
Structure Minnesota Statutes
Chapters 13 - 13C — Data Practices
Chapter 13 — Government Data Practices
Section 13.01 — Government Data.
Section 13.025 — Government Entity Obligation.
Section 13.03 — Access To Government Data.
Section 13.04 — Rights Of Subjects Of Data.
Section 13.045 — Safe At Home Program Participant Data.
Section 13.05 — Duties Of Responsible Authority.
Section 13.055 — Disclosure Of Breach In Security; Notification And Investigation Report Required.
Section 13.06 — Temporary Classification.
Section 13.07 — Duties Of Commissioner; Rules.
Section 13.072 — Opinions By The Commissioner.
Section 13.073 — Public Information Policy Training Program.
Section 13.08 — Civil Remedies.
Section 13.085 — Administrative Remedy.
Section 13.10 — Data On Decedents.
Section 13.15 — Computer Data.
Section 13.201 — Rideshare Data.
Section 13.202 — Political Subdivision Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.203 — Service Cooperative Claims Data.
Section 13.319 — Education Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.32 — Educational Data.
Section 13.321 — Prekindergarten To Grade 12 Educational Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.3215 — University Of Minnesota Data.
Section 13.322 — Postsecondary Education Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.34 — Examination Data.
Section 13.35 — Federal Contracts Data.
Section 13.355 — Social Security Numbers.
Section 13.356 — Personal Contact And Online Account Information.
Section 13.37 — General Nonpublic Data.
Section 13.3805 — Public Health Data.
Section 13.3806 — Public Health Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.381 — Health Regulatory Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.383 — Health Occupations Investigative Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.384 — Medical Data.
Section 13.386 — Treatment Of Genetic Information Held By Government Entities And Other Persons.
Section 13.387 — Health Care Contract Data.
Section 13.39 — Civil Investigation.
Section 13.392 — Internal Auditing Data.
Section 13.40 — Library And Historical Data.
Section 13.401 — Library And Historical Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.41 — Licensing Data.
Section 13.411 — Licensing Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.43 — Personnel Data.
Section 13.435 — Salary Benefit Survey Data.
Section 13.44 — Property Data.
Section 13.441 — Property Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.461 — Human Services Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.462 — Benefit Data.
Section 13.463 — Education Support Services Data.
Section 13.465 — Family And Domestic Relations Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.467 — Foster Care Data.
Section 13.47 — Employment And Training Data.
Section 13.485 — Corporation Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.487 — Trade Regulation And Consumer Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.495 — Lodging Tax Data.
Section 13.4961 — General Tax Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.4963 — Classification And Disclosure Tax Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.4965 — Property Tax Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.4967 — Other Tax Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.51 — Assessor's Data.
Section 13.52 — Deferred Assessment Data.
Section 13.548 — Social Recreational Data.
Section 13.55 — Convention Center Data.
Section 13.552 — Human Rights Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.585 — Housing Agency Data.
Section 13.586 — Housing Agency Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.587 — Emergency Services For Homeless Persons; Private Data.
Section 13.59 — Housing And Redevelopment Data.
Section 13.591 — Business Data.
Section 13.598 — Employment And Economic Development Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.601 — Elected And Appointed Officials.
Section 13.602 — Elected And Appointed Official Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.605 — Legislative Data.
Section 13.606 — Legislative Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.607 — Campaign Finance, Public Disclosure, And Election Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.63 — Retirement Data.
Section 13.631 — Retirement Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.632 — Teachers Retirement Fund Association Data; Certain Cities.
Section 13.635 — General State Agency Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.64 — Administration; Management And Budget Data.
Section 13.6401 — Administration And Management And Budget Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.643 — Agricultural Data.
Section 13.6435 — Agricultural Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.65 — Attorney General Data.
Section 13.67 — Employee Relations Data.
Section 13.6705 — Employee Relations Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.679 — Public Utility Data.
Section 13.68 — Energy And Financial Data And Statistics.
Section 13.681 — Energy And Utilities Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.685 — Municipal Utility Customer Data.
Section 13.69 — Public Safety Department Data.
Section 13.6905 — Public Safety Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.711 — Department Of Commerce Data; Release Of Complaint To Respondent.
Section 13.712 — Commerce Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.713 — Banking Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.714 — Insurance Trust Data; Private And Nonpublic Data.
Section 13.715 — General Insurance Powers Data; Surplus Line Insurance.
Section 13.716 — General Insurance Powers Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.717 — Insurance; Health Care Cost Containment Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.719 — Miscellaneous Insurance Data.
Section 13.7191 — Miscellaneous Insurance Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.72 — Transportation Department Data.
Section 13.721 — Transportation Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.741 — Pollution Control; Environmental Quality Data.
Section 13.7411 — Pollution Control And Environmental Quality Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.745 — Pari-mutuel Horse Racing Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.746 — Gaming Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.785 — Veterans Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.79 — Department Of Labor And Industry Data.
Section 13.7905 — Labor And Industry Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.7908 — Bureau Of Mediation Services Data.
Section 13.791 — Rehabilitation Data.
Section 13.7911 — Bioprocess Piping And Equipment Data.
Section 13.792 — Private Donor Gift Data.
Section 13.793 — Natural Resource Data; Mineral Data.
Section 13.7931 — Natural Resource Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.7932 — Logger Safety And Education Program Data.
Section 13.80 — Domestic Abuse Data.
Section 13.805 — Address Confidentiality Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.82 — Comprehensive Law Enforcement Data.
Section 13.821 — Videotapes Of Child Abuse Victims.
Section 13.822 — Sexual Assault Data.
Section 13.823 — Domestic Abuse Or Sexual Assault Programs.
Section 13.824 — Automated License Plate Readers.
Section 13.825 — Portable Recording Systems.
Section 13.83 — Medical Examiner Data.
Section 13.84 — Court Services Data.
Section 13.841 — Court Services Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.85 — Corrections And Detention Data.
Section 13.851 — Corrections And Detention Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.854 — Release Of Arrested, Detained, Or Confined Person; Automated Notification Service.
Section 13.856 — Ombudsperson For Corrections; Data.
Section 13.86 — Investigative Detention Data.
Section 13.861 — Security Service Data.
Section 13.87 — Criminal Justice Data.
Section 13.871 — Criminal Justice Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.873 — Integrated Search Service Data Subject Access.
Section 13.875 — Juvenile Justice Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.876 — Foster Youth Ombudsperson; Data.
Section 13.88 — Community Dispute Resolution Center Data.
Section 13.89 — Dissemination Of Data To Protection And Advocacy Systems.