Opinion ID: 614999
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Minnesota Government Data Practices Act

Text: The DPA establishes a presumption that government data are public and are accessible by the public for both inspection and copying unless federal or state law provides that the data are not public. Minn.Stat. § 13.01, subdiv. 3. Minnesota Statute § 13.08 provides civil remedies for violations of the DPA, including an action for damages under subdivision 1 and an action to compel compliance under subdivision 4. Under subdivision 1, a person who suffers any damage as a result of a violation of the DPA may bring an action against the responsible authority or government entity to cover any damages sustained, plus costs and reasonable attorney fees. Subdivision 4 provides that any aggrieved person seeking to enforce the person's rights under this chapter or obtain access to data may bring an action in district court to compel compliance with this chapter and may recover costs and disbursements, including reasonable attorney's fees, as determined by the court. See Wiegel v. City of St. Paul, 639 N.W.2d 378, 384-86 (Minn.2002). We agree with the district court's conclusion that because Johnson did not allege any damages, she failed to state a claim under subdivision 1. The district court failed, however, to consider whether Johnson could recover her costs and disbursements in her December 19, 2008, action to compel compliance under subdivision 4. We disagree with the government's contention that this issue is moot, and thus we remand for a ruling on whether Johnson is entitled to any costs or disbursements under that section of the statute.