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.
Moscow is a city in northern Idaho, along the Washington/Idaho border. It is the largest city and county seat of Latah County and the home of the University of Idaho, the land grant institution and primary research university for the state. Eight miles (12 km) to the west is Pullman, Washington and Washington State University, also a land grant college. While the university is the dominant employer in Moscow, the city also serves as an agricultural and commercial hub for the Palouse region. The population was 21,291 at the 2000 census, with a 2008 estimate of 23,131. Moscow is the principal city in the Moscow, Idaho Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Latah County. Moscow is the birthplace of writer Carol Ryrie Brink and singer Josh Ritter. Along with the rest of northern Idaho, Moscow resides in the Pacific Time Zone. The elevation of its city center is 2,579 feet (786 m) above sea level. Highways serving the city are US-95 (north-south) and Highway 8 (east-west), both of which are routed through the Moscow city center.