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.
Steamburg is a hamlet in the town of Coldspring in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. The community is located at the eastern terminus of New York State Route 394, at I-86 exit 17. Also converging on the hamlet is New York State Reference Route 950A (West Bank Perimeter Road, a.k.a. Onoville Road), which approaches from the south, and Cattaraugus County Route 10, which approaches from the north. Steamburg, much like a few other communities in the region, has no incorporated government and is not recognized by the U.S. Census Bureau, but it is noted on road signs and has its own phone exchange (716-354) and ZIP code (14783), both of which extend well beyond the hamlet proper and cover the town of Coldspring and the surrounding areas. Steamburg acts as the western gateway to the Allegany Indian Reservation; as such, a few tax-free gasoline and cigarette shops can be found in the area. The government of the town of Coldspring is also situated in Steamburg.