I have a suspicion that the "product liability" lawsuits
which destroyed the small aircraft manufacturers represents
a way in which champerty can be against the public interest.
A man I knew of was drinking with some friends close to midnight when a girl said she had never flown at night. So he gallantly offered to give her a flight immediately. The
plane crashed killing all aboard. The widow was solicited
to sue the aircraft manufacturer, and did so, just because
she needed money so badly. I don't think she got any money,
but the aircraft manufacturer got stuck with cost of defense
of a suit that should not have been allowed, because it was
so clear that the pilot had been intoxicated.