LANSING, Mich. -- For the second time in as many days, a divided Michigan Supreme Court has taken action favoring people with medical malpractice claims.

The three-member Republican minority sharply criticized the decision released Thursday to reverse the state Court of Appeals and let a claim proceed against a physician's assistant in Oakland County.

A child's family says the assistant failed to diagnose a bone infection during two clinic visits.

The appeals court says the assistant didn't get timely notice of the claim. The high court sent the case back to the county judge.

Republican Elizabeth Weaver voted with the court's three Democrats. The four justices backed a rule Wednesday setting stricter time limits for malpractice defendants' responses.