On 20 December 2006 the Employment Appeal Tribunal confirmed the correctness of the employment tribunal's reference of this case to the ECJ (see Attridge Law (A Firm of Solicitors) & Anor v Coleman [2006] UKEAT 0417 [1]. The crucial question is whether the disability discrimination legislation extends to protect those who suffer (alleged) discrimination because they are associated with someone who is disabled, rather than through being disabled themselves.