DIRECT ACTION
direct action. 1. A lawsuit by an insured against his or her own insurance company rather than
against the tortfeasor and the tortfeasor’s insurer. 2. A lawsuit by a person claiming against an
insured but suing the insurer directly instead of pursuing compensation indirectly through the
insured. [Cases: Insurance 3542. C.J.S. Insurance §§ 1407–1413, 1523, 1642.] 3. A lawsuit to
enforce a shareholder’s rights against a corporation. Cf. DERIVATIVE ACTION(1). [Cases:
Corporations 202.C.J.S. Corporations §§ 397–398, 401, 411.] [Blacks Law 8th]