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.
Stevenson Ranch, California (in the 91381 ZIP Code) is an affluent Los Angeles County, USA, community in the Santa Clarita Valley three miles south of Six Flags Magic Mountain amusement park. Santa Clarita is a growing community north of the San Fernando Valley and Greater Los Angeles Area. It has many new suburban one- and two-story houses in new developments, with a median value of $1,034,600. The area encompasses about 4,000 acres (16 km). About 1,000 acres (4.0 km) are set aside as parks, recreation areas and open space. One of the newer communities in the Santa Clarita, which was ranked number 18 of the top 100 places to live by Money Magazine in 2006, Stevenson Ranch is set in the foothills of the Santa Susana Mountains and lies west of Interstate 5. This area backs up to the historic, oil-mining town of Mentryville, founded in 1875. A master planned community, it was approved by the county in 1987. The Valencia Marketplace and Stevenson Ranch Shopping Center are popular shopping areas in the community. The elementary, junior high, and high school are award-winning schools. The names of many streets located in Stevenson Ranch are those of famous authors. However, the street known as "Thackery Lane" is actually an incorrect misspelling that refers to the 19th century English novelist, William Makepeace Thackeray. It is also the filming location of several film and television productions, including the television show Weeds, a Showtime original series, as well as the feature film Pleasantville. Its master planned nature is at the heart of the suburban commentary of Weeds, such as the "Little Boxes" song and sprawling development portrayed in the opening of the show.