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.
Oakdale is a small unincorporated community in Johnson County, Iowa, United States. It lies north of Coralville and Iowa City, and it is just south of the nearby community of North Liberty. Oakdale is home to the Iowa Medical and Classification Center and a research campus of the University of Iowa. This location was once a tuberculosis sanitarium. Much of what is known as Oakdale is now within the city limits of Coralville.