Increasing access to justice in Thai competition law cases through third-party litigation funding
Keywords:
competition law, access to justice, doctrines of maintenance and champerty, EU competition law, third-party litigation fundingAbstract
Cases pursued with support from third-party litigation funding for the purpose of earning a profit from a share of the capital or the lawsuit outcome are prohibited in Thai courts as actions contrary to 1) public order or good morals and agreements of such nature would be null and void; 2) underlying principles of the Act Promulgating the Criminal Procedure Code, BE 2477 (1934) prohibiting evaluations of cases by allowing self-interest to influence their outcomes; and 3) doctrines of maintenance and champerty, as third parties investing in a case are likely to take any action in favor of maximizing returns for themselves rather than the real victim. Nevertheless, third-party litigation funding in competition litigation cases, normally affecting a broader population, is widely recognized by many jurisdictions in the European Union (EU) and considered a mechanism for increasing access to justice. This article will help explain how third-party litigation funding may increase access to justice in Thai competition law cases.
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