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.
Glencoe (formerly, Mosquito and Mosquito Gulch) is an unincorporated community in Calaveras County, California. It lies at an elevation of 2749 feet and is located at 38°21′15″N 120°35′06″W / 38.35417°N 120.585°W / 38.35417; -120.585. The community is in ZIP code 95232 and area code 209. Glencoe was formerly called Mosquito Gulch. The business portion of the town was on the north side of Mosquito Gulch, but not one of the old buildings remains. The mines were first worked by Mexicans in the early 1850s. Quartz mining predominated but there was some placer mining as well. The town today is registered as California Historical Landmark #280. The first post office was opened at Mosquito in 1858 but closed in 1869; it was re-established as Mosquito Gulch in 1873. The name was changed to Glencoe in 1912; the post office closed again in 1916, but was re-established in 1947.