Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
noun Law.
- 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.
noun plural -ties
- 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 recoveredSee also maintenance
1640s, from champart, from French champart “portion of produce received by a feudal lord from land held in lease from him” (13c.), from Old North French campart-, probably from Latin campi pars “part of the field” (see campus + part (n.)). In later use often with reference to champerty (early 14c.), the illegal act whereby a person makes a bargain to maintain a litigant in return for a share of the gains if the case succeeds.