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.
Portland is an unincorporated community in eastern Callaway County, Missouri, USA. It is part of the Jefferson City, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is located at 38°42′37″N 91°43′02″W / 38.71028°N 91.71722°W / 38.71028; -91.71722 (38.710161,-91.717166) on Route 94 about twenty miles northeast of Jefferson City. It was settled in the 1830s. It is situated directly on the Missouri River, and was settled mostly by German immigrants. The town was called Portland because it was mostly just a little river port used by traders on their way to St. Louis from points further upriver.