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.
Greenbrae (sometimes, Green Brae) is a small community in Marin County, California. It is located 1.5 miles (2 km) south-southeast of downtown San Rafael, at an elevation of 33 feet (10 m), located adjacent to U.S. Route 101 at the opening of the Ross Valley. Part of Greenbrae is an unincorporated community of the county while the remaining area is inside the city limits of Larkspur. The ZIP code is 94904, and is shared with the neighboring CDP of Kentfield. The community is in area code 415. Predominantly composed of hillside and waterfront terrain, its homes and offices are known for their views of the San Francisco Bay, Corte Madera Creek, and Mount Tamalpais. The developer of Greenbrae, Niels Schultz, Jr. , died in early 2008. Greenbrae's neighborhoods are bordered by downtown Larkspur to the south, Larkspur Landing to the east, the unincorporated area of Kentfield to the west, and the city of San Rafael to the north. Straddling Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, its most frequented points of interest include Marin General Hospital and Bon Air Shopping Center. Greenbrae was home to U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer for over 30 years, until 2006. Football coach Pete Carroll was raised in Greenbrae. Writer Jack Finney died in Greenbrae shortly after completing his last novel, as did Les Crane. Director Don Siegal filmed the final scenes from the 1971 movie Dirty Harry on Greenbrae's East Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. After hijacking a school bus "Scorpio" drives into East Sir Francis Drake Boulevard at the Greenbrae interchange. The final shootout scene in the 1971 film, was located on the old gravel mill (Hutchinson's Rock Quarry) that became what is now Larkspur Landing.