THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
In The Supreme Court


South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs, Petitioner,

v.

Rent-A-Center, Inc., a/k/a Thorn Americas, Inc., Respondent.


ON WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE COURT OF APPEALS


Appeal From Richland County
James W. Johnson, Jr., Circuit Court Judge


Opinion No. 25565
Heard November 20, 2002 - Filed December 9, 2002


AS IMPROVIDENTLY GRANTED


Helen Fennell and Danny R. Collins, of South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs, of Columbia, for Petitioner.

Thomas H. Pope, III, of Pope and Hudgens, P.A., of Newberry, for Respondent.


PER CURIAM: This Court granted the petition for a writ of certiorari to review the Court of Appeals’ opinion in South Carolina Dep’t of Consumer Affairs v. Rent-A-Center, Inc., 345 S.C. 251, 547 S.E.2d 881 (Ct. App. 2001). After careful consideration, we now dismiss certiorari as improvidently granted.

DISMISSED.

TOAL, C.J., WALLER, BURNETT and PLEICONES, JJ., and Acting Justice Henry F. Floyd concur.