The Minnesota Supreme Court heard arguments last night (Wednesday) on whether Prior Lake officials violated the state's open meeting law when they met privately to discuss a potential lawsuit. The newspaper, The Prior Lake American sued the officials arguing that the council and mayor used a meeting with their attorney as a pretext to keep the public out of a discussion on a controversial issue. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports: {Open government is a cornerstone principle of the United States; government activities can only be closed to the public under rare circumstances. One such circumstance can occur when officials must discuss legal strategies with attorneys. Prior Lake officials argued they had such a circumstance. Ryan Construction Company applied for a permit to operate a gravel pit and said if the council denied the permit or ordered an environmental assessment, it might seek legal action.