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]