Civil law, as opposed to criminal law, is the branch of law dealing with disputes between individuals and/or organizations, in which compensation may be awarded to the victim. For instance, if a car crash victim claims damages against the driver for loss or injury sustained in an accident, this will be a civil law case. Civil law courts provide a forum for deciding disputes involving torts (such as accidents, negligence, and libel), contract disputes, the probate of wills, trusts, property disputes, administrative law, commercial law, and any other private matters that involve private parties or organizations including government departments. The objectives of civil law are different from other types of law. In civil law there is the attempt to right a wrong, honor an agreement, or settle a dispute. If there is a victim, they get compensation, and the person who is the cause of the wrong pays, this being a civilized form of, or legal alternative to, revenge.
Smiths Station is a city in Lee County, Alabama, United States. It is a part of the Columbus, Georgia-Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city is also known by locals as Smiths, although the official name is Smiths Station. According to the local legend, a postmaster around 1960 grew tired of writing Smiths Station, so he took it upon himself to drop "Station" from the name of the community. Smiths Station was officially incorporated in June 2001, and is as of 2004 Alabama's second newest city next to Center Point. At the time of the 2000 census, it was still a census-designated place (CDP), and its population was 21,756. Smiths Station is a bedroom community of Columbus, Georgia and Phenix City, Alabama. Smiths Station High School has an enrollment of 2,500+ students and is the 10th largest high school in the state.