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.
Hampton is a city in Franklin County, Iowa, United States. The population was 4,218 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Franklin County. Hampton is the hometown of Fleet Admiral William D. Leahy, Chief of Staff to President Roosevelt during World War II. Hampton is also the hometown of early television personality Jack Bailey, best known as host of the game show Queen for a Day. The city is intersected by two major highways: US Route 65 and Iowa Highway 3. Interstate 35 is nine miles west of town. There is also an airport, Hampton Municipal, located on the city's southwest side. The Franklin Country Fair is held in Hampton, which has brought such acts recently as the Marshall Tucker Band and Lonestar. Beeds Lake State Park is located a few miles northwest of the city. In 2007 the 200 MW Buffalo Creek Wind Farm was developed by Wind Capital Group and later sold to Alliant Energy later the same year.