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.
Mendota is a city located in north-central Illinois in LaSalle County, Illinois, United States. The city has 7,272 residents, and is the fifth largest city in LaSalle County. It is part of the Ottawa–Streator Micropolitan Statistical Area. The current mayor is David W. Boelk, an independent elected to a four year term in April 2005. He was re-elected in April 2009. Mendota is served by U. S interstate 39, U.S. Route 34, U.S. Route 52, and by many state highways including Illinois Route 251. There is also daily train service by Amtrak at the Mendota Amtrak station to Chicago and also to points west on the Illinois Zephyr, Carl Sandburg, and Southwest Chief routes. Helen E. Hokinson, cartoonist for The New Yorker from 1925 until her death in 1949, was born and raised in Mendota. Former Minnesota Vikings running back Bill Brown was also born and raised in Mendota. Wartburg College (now located in Waverly, Iowa) was located in Mendota from 1875 to 1885.