CHAMPERTY, in comrnon law, a bargain between a plaintiff or defendant in a cause and another person, to divide the land (campum partiri) or other subject-matter of the action in the event of success, in consideration of that person carrying on or defending the suit partly or wholly at his own expense. It is a mis demeanour punishable by fine or imprisonment. It differs only from maintenance (q.v.), in that the recompense for the service which has been given is always part of the matter in action, or some profit growing out of it. Such an agreement is illegal and void. It is not, however, illegal to charge the subject-matter of an action in order to obtain the means of prosecuting or defending it.
See Fifth Report of the Criminal Law Commissioners, pp.