MINNESOTA ? Dozens of victims of last summer’s bridge collapse in Minneapolis – from surviving spouses to the parents of children riding on a yellow school bus – have filed preliminary paperwork to sue the state.

The documents, obtained by The Associated Press through a public records request, provide a glimpse into a brewing legal battle over the Aug. 1 disaster, in which the Interstate 35W bridge plummeted 60 feet into the Mississippi River, killing 13 and injuring 145.

The first legal deadline – requiring those injured to notify the state within 180 days – is coming up Sunday. Lawyers described the notices as a formality that may not even be necessary to sue later, but the number of notices indicate that many victims are contemplating their options in court.

“This is the predecessor to the lawsuits,” said Chris Messerly, an attorney for a pro bono coalition of law firms representing more than 60 bridge victims.

As of Friday, Attorney General Lori Swanson’s office had received notice of potential legal claims from 73 injured bridge victims and their family members.