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.
Cortland is a city in Trumbull County, Ohio, United States located on the eastern shore of Mosquito Creek Reservoir. Walnut Run is the creek that runs through town. The population was 6,830 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA Metropolitan Statistical Area. Cortland became a village in 1874 with the construction of a railroad depot. It became a city in 1980 when its population exceeded 5,000 people. The area was once known as Baconsburg, after Samuel Bacon, who built a sawmill and several buildings in the area during the early 1800s. Cortland's school district is known as Lakeview. It has two elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. The current mayor of Cortland is Curt Moll. Past mayors include Melissa Long and Sandra Roscoe.