Minn. judge to rule next month on release of bridge data Eds: NewsNow. Will be led.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) A Hennepin County judge says he'll rule by early December on how much data gathered after the Interstate 35 Minnesota-bridge-collapse" class="kxInlineLink">Bridge Collapse the state must make public.

An attorney for victims of the collapse asked District Judge Herbert Lefler on Thursday to order the state Transportation Department to release more information.

The attorneys for the victims are gathering information about the collapse for a future lawsuit. The Aug. 1 collapse killed 13 people and injured about 100.

A lawyer for MnDOT (MINN-dot) says federal regulations allow the National Transportation Safety Board to withhold data about active investigations.

Minnesota law presumes data is public unless a government entity can present a compelling reason to keep it private.

Lefler says he'll rule by Dec. 3.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 11-15-07 0938CST | save this article / add to your favorites list