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.
Fulton is an unincorporated community in Howard County, Maryland. Prior to 1805 it was called Queen Caroline Parish, then it was called Hammond Directions. Around December 1874 it was called Waters, after Richard Waters the first Postmaster. The community is served by area code 301 and zip code 20759, and is located between Baltimore and Washington, D.C. , just minutes from Columbia, Maryland. Located in Fulton are a post office, High's Store, and Ledo Pizza. Other retail establishments include Fulton Family Chiropractic, Fulton Station Jewelers, Fulton Animal Hospital, Fulton Wine & Spirits, Hilities Beauty, Nail Boutique at Fulton Station, Computer Country, and the Studio at Fulton (a local pottery store). Maple Lawn Farms, by the Iager Families, produces free range Sho-Nuf Turkeys and nationally recognized Registered Holsteins in Fulton. The farm has been active since 1839. Reservoir High School, Lime Kiln Middle School, Fulton Elementary School and Cedar Lane School are all located in Fulton. Also present are Grace Community Church, St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, and St. Paul's Lutheran Church, which was built in the 1870s by a group of mostly German families after originally meeting in each others homes since the 1860s. William Smallwood, Maryland's famous general in the Revolutionary War, had a nephew who lived in Fulton, and whose descendants remained in Fulton until 1920. Holly House resident George Howe wrote a book titled Call It Treason which was made into the movie Decision Before Dawn. The film was nominated for Best Picture and Best Film Editing academy awards. Beaufort Park, one of the local neighborhoods, was described by The Washington Post on July 4, 1998 as "A Sea of Tranquility Set in a Watershed, A Parklike Setting in Howard County". Maple Lawn, which opened in 2004/2005, was developed by Greenebaum & Rose Associates and has brought a main street style shopping district with stores such as Harris Teeter, Hyatt & Co. Clothing, Daily Grind, i.m. Wine, Maggie Moo's Ice Cream, Ranazul Tapas Wine & Bistro, The Pearl Spa & Boutique, Looney's Pub, Calico Corners, Bra-La-La, BP Maple Lawn, AAA, Belisimo Flowers, and Techlab Photo & Digital (formerly of Dobbin Center).