pkp/omp — comment on commit 44613829e3bbeb43e297cce66df9f98a7d9dc429
File: controllers/grid/content/spotlights/ManageSpotlightsGridHandler.inc.php line 371
By asmecher:

This work-around is only required in certain cases. In PHP4, the object referred to by $this in the constructor ends up being different from the object returned to calling code (unless construct-by-reference is used).