News organizations sue for access to Minnesota Twins documents
By The Associated Press
06.25.02
MINNEAPOLIS — Three Minnesota news organizations have filed a lawsuit seeking confidential documents relating to Major League Baseball's efforts to eliminate the Minnesota Twins.
The Star Tribune, the Associated Press and KARE-TV sued the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, which received the documents from the Twins in connection with its now-settled lawsuit over the future of the team.
Baseball says the case is over, so the documents should not be released.
The news organizations also said they wanted access to several pages of materials produced by baseball that were filed under seal with the Hennepin County District Court. Those pages had several sections whited out. Those documents list six unidentified individuals who apparently were involved in business transactions with companies connected to Twins owner Carl Pohlad.
Besides suing the commission under the Minnesota Data Practices Act, the news organizations are seeking access to the documents by pressing their claim to intervene in the recently settled lawsuit by the commission against the Twins and Major League Baseball. The St. Paul Pioneer Press is also part of that effort to intervene but was not a party in the lawsuit filed June 19.
John Borger, attorney for the Star Tribune, AP and KARE-TV, said they were pursuing the two-track strategy to cover all possibilities "so the question of public access can be addressed on its merits."
The commission sued baseball owners in November and settled June 6, after the Twins' owners agreed to keep the team playing at the Metrodome at least through 2003.
The media organizations contend that the case is not over until all issues are resolved, one of which is their earlier request that news organizations and the public be able to review documents filed in the case.
Those documents include 9,000 items turned over to the commission by the Twins, plus the sealed document filed by Major League Baseball.
While details have not been disclosed, the commission had sought team owners' internal financial information and asked for documents on plans to disband teams.