Today’s [September 12, 2012] advance sheet notes a refiled opinion in the case of South Carolina Department of Social Services v. Mary C. Oddly enough this opinion has already been published in South Carolina Reports (396 S.C. 15) and Southeastern Reporter (720 S.E.2d 503). The published opinion notes that a rehearing was denied on December 21, 2011. The September 12, 2012 advance sheet reflects that the September 21, 2011 initial opinion was withdrawn, substituted and refiled on December 21, 2011. It is unclear why it took 8 ½ months to make the public aware of this fact.
I cannot recall another case in which an opinion was published and subsequently withdrawn, substituted and refiled. This modified opinions make a few minor changes to the factual recitation and legal argument but does nothing to change the initial outcome or my original analysis.
