interested witness

An interested witness is a witness with a personal interest, or stake, in the outcome of a legal proceeding such as a lawsuit or the signing of a will . The interested witness will either gain something or lose something through the proceeding. For example, a defendant who testifies in a civil case for pecuniary damages is an interested witness because they will be required to pay the plaintiff if the defendant loses.

In some jurisdictions, the Judge may provide jury instructions stating that as jurors , the jury may consider the interest the witness has in the outcome of the case when determining the credibility of the witness's testimony .

[Last reviewed in November of 2024 by the Wex Definitions Team ]

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