Facts: the claimant had obtained judgment for damages to be assessed. The local authority sought to be joined to the proceedings as a party.

Judgment: the Court of Appeal (Maurice Kay, Rix and Stanley Burnton LJJ) held that the local authority should be joined because (a) how the award of damage was structured would affect the local authority, in that it would not be able to charge for care if a lump sum award was made (rather than periodical payments); (b) it would be useful for the court to have information about all the various care options and charges; and (c) if a lump sum was awarded to cover private care, the local authority ought to be heard as to whether an undertaking ought to be given and as to its form.