Case Name: SHAW & REED, Respondents, v. GEORGE H. DAVIS, Appellant
Court: Supreme Court of California
Jurisdiction: California
Decision Date: 1855
Citations: 5 Cal. 466
Docket Number: 
Parties: SHAW & REED, Respondents, v. GEORGE H. DAVIS, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: California Reports
Volume: 5
Pages: 466–467

Head Matter:
SHAW & REED, Respondents, v. GEORGE H. DAVIS, Appellant.
A broker, whose commissions or compensation depends on his principal’s recovery, is incompetent as a witness, on the ground that he is directly interested in the event of the suit.
Appeal from the Superior Court of the City of San Francisco.
Pearkes & Wattson, for Appellant.
Robinson & Beatty, for Respondents.

Opinion:
Murray, C. J., delivered the opinion of the Court.
Heydenfeldt, J., concurred.
On the trial of this cause in the Court below, the plaintiffs intro duced as a witness one Webb, who testified on his voir dire, that he had negotiated the contract between the parties, and that his brokerage or compensation depended on the plaintiff's recovery; as it was a custom among brokers not to charge commissions in case a sale miscarried.
The witness was incompetent, and should have been excluded; inasmuch as he was directly interested in the event of the suit.
Judgment reversed, and new trial ordered.