Southwell and Jane (No 2)

In *Southwell and Jane (No 2)*, the Supreme Court of Victoria, constituted by Cronin J, considered an application to join Southwell Pty Ltd as a party to existing proceedings. The specific nature of the dispute between the original parties is not detailed in the provided text, but the application to join a new party indicates a potential expansion or clarification of the legal contest.

The primary legal issue before the court was whether Southwell Pty Ltd ought to be joined as a party to the proceedings. This determination would likely involve an assessment of the company's interest in the subject matter of the litigation and whether its joinder was necessary for the court to effectively and completely adjudicate upon all the questions involved.

Cronin J ordered that Southwell Pty Ltd be joined as a party to the proceedings. Furthermore, the court directed that all outstanding issues be listed for directions as soon as practicable, with the clear intention of resuming the trial. This indicates that the joinder of Southwell Pty Ltd was considered a necessary step before the substantive trial could continue.