champerty
/ˈtʃæmpərti/
noun
- An illegal agreement in which a person who is not a party to a lawsuit helps pay for it in exchange for a share of any money or property awarded.
- The judge dismissed the case after finding evidence of champerty between the plaintiff and an outside investor.
- Historically, champerty was considered a crime because it encouraged unnecessary lawsuits.
- The lawyer was accused of champerty for financing a client's case in return for a percentage of the winnings.