champerty

American  

[cham-per-tee] / ˈtʃæm pər ti /

noun

Law.

1. a sharing in the proceeds of litigation by one who agrees with either the plaintiff or defendant to help promote it or carry it on.

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champerty British  

/ ˈtʃæmpətɪ /

noun

1. law (formerly) an illegal bargain between a party to litigation and an outsider whereby the latter agrees to pay for the action and thereby share in any proceeds recovered See also maintenance

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Other Word Forms

• champertous adjective

Etymology

Origin of champerty

1300–50; Middle English champartie, equivalent to champart (< Middle French: share of the produce, literally, of the field, equivalent to champ field ( see camp ¹) + part share, see part) + -ie -y ³

Example Sentences

Over the last two decades, many states have either largely lifted the ban on speculators’ settlement investments or abolished the protection altogether, allowing champerty to return in full force.

From Slate • Feb. 16, 2018

In the Supreme Court’s definition, “Maintenance is helping another prosecute a suit; champerty is maintaining a suit in return for a financial interest in the outcome.”

From The New Yorker • May 27, 2016

There are two forms of third-party funding: maintenance and champerty.

From The New Yorker • May 27, 2016

Twenty-eight states now explicitly permit champerty, as long as funders do not act out of malice, back frivolous lawsuits or exert too much control over trial strategy.

From New York Times • Oct. 22, 2015

It is not, however, champerty to charge the subject-matter of a suit in order to obtain the means of prosecuting it.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 7 "Cerargyrite" to "Charing Cross" by Various