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.
Drayton Plains is an unincorporated community in the U.S. state of Michigan. It was first settled in 1823. A dam and gristmill was built in 1837 and the Drayton Plains Hotel was built in 1839. It was platted in 1860, but never incorporated as a municipality and its identity has been largely subsumed within that of Waterford Charter Township. It is located on Dixie Highway around the west end of Loon Lake at 42°41'03" N, 83°22'38" W. Brookfield Academy, originally founded as the Laurel Montessori School in 1964 in Drayton Plains, was the first Montessori school in Michigan. An old fish hatchery is now the Drayton Plains Nature Center. Drayton Plains was informally referred to as a village and maintained its own identity and post office until the early 1990s when the post office was closed and functions transferred to the Waterford Post Office. The current ZIP code for the community is 48330.