Minnesota Supreme Court Rules Insurer Can Withhold Records

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - The Minnesota Supreme Court has ruled that an insurer created by the Legislature does not have to make its records public.

The decision Wednesday ends a two-year legal battle between the Star Tribune and the Minnesota Joint Underwriting Association. The association sued the newspaper in 2013 to block access to its records.

The Legislature crated the association to offer liability coverage for providers like doctors, nurses and hospitals that are considered such high risk they cannot get insurance in the private market.

The Star Tribune argued that because the association was created by a public body to keep hospitals, doctors and nursing homes in business, its records should be accessible.

The association countered that it is not a public agency because it is funded by its policyholders, not taxpayers.