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.
Hat Creek is an unincorporated town of 400 people in eastern Shasta County, California, 26 miles north of Lassen Park, 13 miles southeast of Burney (9 miles south of the junction of hwy 89 and 299), and 15 miles south of Burney Falls. Its zip code is 96040. Wired telephone numbers are from the Burney central office and follow the pattern 530-335-xxxx. Hat Creek is home to the Hat Creek Radio Observatory, run by UC Berkeley. The town's main economies are tourism, fishing, camping, and lodging. It's still a travel hot spot in Shasta County, although it's about 70 miles east of Redding, CA and about the same to Susanville, CA.