A lawsuit brought by a shareholder of a corporation on behalf of the corporation to enforce or defend a legal right or claim, which the corporation has failed to do. Derivative actions in the context of homeowners associations are lawsuits brought by a member of the association, typically against a member of the board of directors or the entire board of directors, to enforce a legal right of the members of the Association that the board has failed to do or for malfeasance against the board or board member. The person bringing the derivative action cannot allege or recover damages on behalf of him or herself.