Champerty

Chief Justice

An agreement between the party suing in a lawsuit (plaintiff) and another person, usually an attorney, who agrees to finance and carry the lawsuit in return for a percentage of the recovery (money won and paid). in common law this was illegal on the theory that it encouraged lawsuits. today it is legal and often part of a “contingent fee” agreement between lawyer and client. it is not the same as barratry, which is active encouragement of lawsuits.

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