from
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)
DE QUOTA LITIS. The name of a part or contract, in the civil law, by which
one who has a claim difficult to recover, agrees with another to give a part
for the purpose of obtaining his services to recover the rest. 1 Duv. n.
201.
2. Whenever such an agreement amounts to champerty, it is void by law.
5 Monr. 416; 5 John. Ch. 44.
3. Attorneys cannot lawfully make a bargain with their clients to
receive for their compensation, a part of the thing sued for; in New York, 2
Caines, 147; Ohio, 1 Ham. 132; Alabama, 755; and some other states - but in
some of the states such contracts are not unlawful.