CHAMPERTY - A bargain with a plaintiff
or defendant, campum partire, to divide the land or
other matter sued for between them if they prevail
at law, the champertor undertaking to carry on the
suit at his own expense.
This offence differs from maintenance in that in
the latter the person assisting the suitor receives
no benefit, while in the former he receives one half,
or other portion, of the thing sued for. This was
an offence in the civil law. To maintain a defendant
may be champerty.
While elements of champerty remain violations of
law or attorney ethics, the prohibitions have been
greatly relaxed in modern times and generally now
prohibit only the attorney formally covering all costs
of an action.
CHAMPERTOR - One who makes pleas
or suits, or causes them to be moved, either directly
or indirectly, and sues them at his proper costs,
upon condition of having a part of the gain.
