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.
Woody Creek is an unincorporated town and a U.S. Post Office located in Pitkin County, Colorado, United States. The Woody Creek Post Office has the ZIP Code 81656. Woody Creek is situated in the valley of the Roaring Fork River northwest of Aspen, along State Highway 82, where Woody Creek exits a canyon and joins the Roaring Fork. It is situated at the northwest (and least developed) end of a small valley that stretches southeast along the Roaring Fork to Aspen. The community is centered around the Woody Creek Tavern, a well-known landmark that sits along a county road, somewhat concealed from State Highway 82. Adjacent to the tavern is a trailer park and several homes, ranging from modest older ones to newer upscale structures. Patrons of the tavern can request a postcard from the bar which comes with postage for USA delivery, which can be scrawled upon and dropped off at the nearby post office. At one time the Woody Creek Tavern sponsored a legal defense fund for the CEO of Enron, Kenneth Lay; specifically, a jar on the top of the bar, in which patrons could drop their donations. The jar contained items such as screws, condoms, toothpicks, a small toy figure of a man with broken legs, string, rubber bands, pennies and IOUs. Woody Creek was the residence of noted author Hunter S. Thompson for much of his life and at the time of his death. It also has been the home of several other notable popular celebrities and musicians including the late broadcaster Ed Bradley, Don Henley of the Eagles, John Oates, and actor Don Johnson. Currently, U.S. Speaker Of the House Nancy Pelosi has a winter home in Woody Creek off Star Mesa Rd. Woody Creek was the residence of many of the founding members of the Aspen Ridiculous Theatre Company (ART-C). ART-C founders lived at both ends of Woody Creek Canyon - in the trailer park adjacent to the Tavern and in shotgun mining shacks along the Woody Creek headwaters in Lenado. ART-C is famous for its annual WInterskol show ("Hey Butthole, it's WInterskol!") and spring extravaganzas at the Wheeler Opera House.