Becker and Vale and Ors

In the matter of *Becker and Vale and Ors*, heard before Judge Lapthorn, the applicant sought to join Mr C Vale and two companies, (omitted) Pty Ltd and (omitted) Pty Ltd, as third parties to the proceedings. The precise nature of the underlying dispute between the original parties was not detailed, but the central issue before the court concerned the joinder of these proposed third parties.

The court was required to determine whether it was appropriate to grant the applications to join Mr C Vale and the two companies as third parties to the existing litigation. This involved considering the legal tests and principles governing the joinder of additional parties in Australian court proceedings, particularly in circumstances where their involvement might be considered necessary or desirable for the just and convenient determination of the dispute.

Judge Lapthorn dismissed all applications to join the proposed third parties. While the specific reasoning for this dismissal was not elaborated upon in the provided text, the outcome indicates that the court found insufficient grounds to permit their joinder. The court then made orders regarding the filing of written submissions on the issue of costs by the applicant and the proposed third parties, indicating that the question of costs would be determined following further submissions.