champerty

Noun

WordNet 3.0

Noun (1)

  1. 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”
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Champerty \Cham"per*ty\, n. [F. champart field rent, L. campipars; champ (L. campus) field + part (L. pars) share.]

1.Partnership in power; equal share of authority. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

Beaut['e] ne sleighte, strengthe ne hardyness, Ne may with Venus holde champartye.— Chaucer.[1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

Note: By many authorities champerty is defined as an agreement of this nature. From early times the offence of champerty has been forbidden and punishable. [1913 Webster]

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