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.
Lakeville is a suburb 23 miles (37 km) south of downtown Minneapolis in the U.S. state of Minnesota in Dakota County. On the south metro fringe, Lakeville is one of the fastest growing cities in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. The U.S. Census Bureau recorded the population of the city of Lakeville at 43,128 people in 2000. The Metropolitan Council estimate for 2006 was 52,323. Lakeville is located on Interstate Highway 35. With an interstate highway link to the Twin Cities and undeveloped land, Lakeville has grown at rapid pace in the region's exurbia. The city became notable in 1910 when Marion Savage built the Dan Patch Railroad Line to service his Antlers Amusement Park. Subsequently, Lakeville became a flourishing milling center from this line and today, the agriculture industry still is in operation. While a significant percentage of Lakeville's workers commute northward to the downtowns of Minneapolis and St. Paul, and closer-in suburbs like Bloomington, Lakeville has had major industry since the 1960s—including the Airlake Industrial Park, which is served by Airlake Airport, a regional reliever airport.