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.
Catheys Valley (formerly, Cathay and Cathey's Valley) is an unincorporated community in Mariposa County, California. It lies in Catheys Valley 22 miles (35.2 km) northeast of Merced, and 8 miles (13 km) southwest of Mariposa, at an elevation of 1325 feet (404 m). Catheys Valley has a population of 1,007. Catheys Valley was named after Andrew Cathey, a native of North Carolina, who settled in this valley around 1850. The ZIP Code is 95306. The community is inside area code 209.