champerty Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun an unethical agreement between an attorney and client that the attorney would sue and pay the costs of the client's suit in return for a portion of the damages awarded
    • soliciting personal injury cases may constitute champerty

WordNet

Cham"per*ty noun
Etymology
F. champart field rent, L. campipars; champ (L. campus) field + part (L. pars) share.
Definitions
  1. Partnership in power; equal share of authority. Obs.
    Beauté ne sleighte, strengthe ne hardyness, Ne may with Venus holde champartye. Chaucer.
  2. (Law) The prosecution or defense of a suit, whether by furnishing money or personal services, by one who has no legitimate concern therein, in consideration of an agreement that he shall receive, in the event of success, a share of the matter in suit; maintenance with the addition of an agreement to divide the thing in suit. See Maintenance. ✍ By many authorities champerty is defined as an agreement of this nature. From early times the offence of champerty has been forbidden and punishable.

Webster 1913