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.
Berea is a city in Cuyahoga County in the U.S. state of Ohio. It is a suburb of Cleveland. The population was 18,970 at the 2000 census. Berea is home to Baldwin-Wallace College and the training facility for the Cleveland Browns. Berea proclaims itself "The Grindstone Capital of the World". The town's symbol is a grindstone, a tribute to the many grindstones that came out of its quarries. Before concrete came into wide use, Berea dimension stone was an important construction material and huge amounts of it came from Berea. Several lakes in the area are former quarry pits that have been allowed to fill with water. John Baldwin named the city after the biblical Berea, and was only granted the naming rights after a coin flip. The town was founded in 1836. Berea High School was the first high school, founded in 1882, and Berea is also home to the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds. Berea public schools are part of the Berea City School District, which also contains schools in Brook Park and Middleburg Heights. Berea will construct Grindstone Elementary in 2011–2012 following the demolition of Fairwood Elementary.