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.
Palisades, formerly known as Sneden's Landing and then Rockland, is a hamlet in the Town of Orangetown Rockland County, New York, United States located north of Rockleigh and Alpine, New Jersey; east of Tappan; south of Sparkill and west of the Hudson River. The hamlet has no mayor, nor any official legislative bodies. It does, however, have its own library, and post office, with the zip code 10964. It is almost entirely residential with the exception of a small industrial area section on the Tappan border. The area commonly referred to as Snedens Landing, is located within the eastern portion of Palisades between US Route 9W and the Hudson River. The hamlet has a registered historic district known as the Closter Road - Oak Tree Road Historic District. The district comprises the area from the north side of Closter Road and south side of Oak Tree Road approximately 1/2 mile west of US Route 9W in Palisades. The hamlet's significant institutions include an IBM conference center, the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, and a well-regarded nursing home. It is the southernmost community in Rockland County. Sneden's Landing is mentioned in Alec Wilder's song, "Did You Ever Cross Over to Sneden's?", one of Mabel Mercer's signature pieces.