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.
Beckwourth is a census-designated place (CDP) in Plumas County, California, United States. The population was 342 at the 2000 census. According to the USGS National Geographic Names Database, a variant spelling was Beckwith and its name comes from an early explorer who had changed his name from Beckwith to Beckwourth: Named for James P. Beckwourth (d.1867), adventurer, trapper, and trail blazer who discovered Beckwourth Pass in 1851. Beckwourth built the first house in the Sierra Valley where he operated an inn and trading post. During the 1850's, Beckwourth Pass was the portal of an immigrant route into California through Lassen, Plumas, Butte and Yuba counties known as the Beckwourth Trail.