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.
Kerkhoven is a city in Swift County, Minnesota, United States, located roughly 100 miles (160 km) west of the Twin Cities region of Minneapolis/St. Paul along U.S. Route 12. It was incorporated as a city in 1881, largely due to the railroad recently built there. The population was 759 at the 2000 census. Kerkhoven is home to Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg High School on the west side of the community. The current building (which replaced the 1904 McKinley Building complex) was constructed in 1994. Kerkhoven's population has declined during the past 50 years due to the decline of agriculture based jobs. The community is home to Lutheran, Baptist, Presbyterian, and Evangelical Free churches. The local high school (Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg Fighting Saints) claimed the 2008 Minnesota High School Football Class A Championship by defeating Royalton, MN.