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.
Cotuit is a village on Cape Cod in the Town of Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States. Located on a peninsula on the south side of Barnstable about midway between Falmouth, Massachusetts and Hyannis, Massachusetts. Cotuit is bounded by the Santuit River to the west on the Mashpee, Massachusetts town line, the villages of Marstons Mills, Massachusetts to the north, and Osterville, Massachusetts to the east, and Nantucket Sound to the south. Cotuit is primarily residential with several small beaches including Ropes Beach, Riley's Beach, The Loop Beach and Oregon Beach. Image:Cotuit Bay 2007 the Tug, Francis Minot. jpg|The Francis Minot Image:Cotuit Ropes Beach 1900s. jpg|Rope's Beach in the 1900s Image:CotuitBaySpring2008. jpg|Rope's Beach looking out onto Cotuit Bay, April 2008