Mills v. Geo. A. Moore & Co.

This is an action based on an oral contract to recover certain commissions. The plaintiff had judgment in the trial court and the defendant appealed under section 953a of the Code of Civil Procedure.

The plaintiff alleged that he had been employed by the defendant as its exclusive agent to sell bags; that thereafter the defendant and the plaintiff agreed to modify that contract; that by the modification the plaintiff promised the defendant that the defendant might employ other agents to sell bags, and the defendant promised to pay the plaintiff a commission on the sales made by those extra salesmen. These were complete allegations on the subject of consideration, and brought the plaintiff fairly within the provisions of section 1605 of the Civil Code, and the consideration was sufficiently pleaded to withdraw the case from the doctrine stated in Acheson v.Western Union Tel. Co., 96 Cal. 641, [31 P. 583].

The defendant earnestly contends that there was a fatal variance, and presents the point by calling attention to the ruling of the trial court denying its motion for a nonsuit, and, later, its refusal to give certain instructions requested by defendant. We think this contention is not well founded. The plaintiff alleged his contract according to its legal effect. When called as a witness he stated the terms of the contract much more in detail than he had stated it in his complaint, but in no respect did he state it differently. These facts do not show a fatal variance. (Bowers' California Dredging Co. v. SanFrancisco Bridge Co., 132 Cal. 342, [64 P. 475]; Antonelle v.Kennedy Shaw Lumber Co., 140 Cal. 309, [73 P. 966].)

The contract, it is admitted, contained a covenant that the plaintiff would keep the defendant advised as to the features of the market. The defendant attempted to prove that the plaintiff did not do so, but was excused therefrom. The defendant then invokes the rule that a plea of performance is not sustained by proof of excuse from performance. (Peek v. Steinberg, 163 Cal. 127, [124 P. 834].) That rule is well settled, but the defendant has not brought itself within that rule. Throughout a long examination the plaintiff, who was the only witness on the subject, consistently claimed that he had performed his contract, and at no time did he admit non-performance and claim excuse.

The record shows no error and the judgment is affirmed.

Lennon, P. J., and Beasly, J., pro tem., concurred.