CHS files motion to stop Ft. Mill hospital, legal fight continues

FORT MILL, SC (WBTV) - More than a week after officials from Piedmont Medical Center were awarded the rights to build a hospital in Fort Mill, a motion has been filed by another hospital group to challenge the ruling.

Carolinas Healthcare System (CHS) filed a Motion for Reconsideration on Wednesday in South Carolina asking the state to re-consider the decision.

CHS had 30 days to appeal the decision, which was filed on March 31.

In the motion, CHS officials claim the court has "unconstitutionally engaged in economic protectionism" by protecting Piedmont from "perceived adverse effects of competition from an out-of-state hospital."

The motion adds another layer to the legal fight over the Fort Mill hospital that has been going for nearly a decade.

The battle for the hospital began back in 2005 between PMC, CHS and Presbyterian Hospital.

In 2006, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) awarded the project to Piedmont, but the other two hospitals fought back and appealed DHEC's decision.

In 2011, DHEC then awarded the project to CHS, but again the other two hospitals appealed the decision.

Presbyterian dropped out of the hospital race in February 2013.

People spoke with some residents in the area about the nearly decade-long battle and most of them didn't have a preference.