Justice for Profit: A Comparative Analysis of Australian, Canadian and U.S. Third Party Litigation Funding

56 Pages Posted: 26 May 2012 Last revised: 10 Feb 2013

See all articles by Jasminka Kalajdzic

Jasminka Kalajdzic

University of Windsor - Faculty of Law

Peter Kenneth Cashman

The University of Sydney - Faculty of Law

Alana Longmoore

Windsor; University of Detroit Mercy

Date Written: May 23, 2012

Abstract

Third party litigation funding (TPLF) has emerged as one of the most important developments in civil litigation. Courts and policymakers in several countries are looking to each other as they debate the costs and benefits of this growing industry, and the need for regulatory oversight. Such cross-pollination in the public and jurisprudential debates on TPLF can be enormously helpful, but must be approached with caution. The TPLF industry operates in very different procedural environments, and any comparative analysis must take into account the various jurisdictions’ unique litigation culture and architecture. In this paper, the authors explore TPLF in the U.S., Australia and Canada, with a focus on class action litigation in the latter two jurisdictions. They examine the historical development of TPLF, current practices, the legal and procedural context within which such funding takes place, and how each jurisdiction is addressing regulation of this form of finance. In the final part of the paper, they engage in a comparative analysis of TPLF in the three countries, and highlight important differences that may ultimately result in unique approaches to regulatory oversight of the industry.

Keywords: litigation, finance, costs, class actions

JEL Classification: K00, K10, K41

Suggested Citation

Kalajdzic, Jasminka and Cashman, Peter Kenneth and Longmoore, Alana, Justice for Profit: A Comparative Analysis of Australian, Canadian and U.S. Third Party Litigation Funding (May 23, 2012). American Journal of Comparative Law, Vol. 61, No. 2, 2013, Sydney Law School Research Paper No. 12/59, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2064980 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2064980

Jasminka Kalajdzic (Contact Author)

University of Windsor - Faculty of Law ( email )

401 Sunset Avenue
Windsor, Ontario N9B 3P4 N9B 3P4
Canada

Peter Kenneth Cashman

The University of Sydney - Faculty of Law ( email )

New Law Building, F10
The University of Sydney
Sydney, NSW 2006
Australia

Alana Longmoore

Windsor; University of Detroit Mercy ( email )

4001 McNichols Rd
Detroit, MI 48221
United States

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