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.
Dixon Springs is an unincorporated community in Smith County, Tennessee, United States. Once a thriving area between Carthage and Hartsville, the community is still quaint with many antebellum homes and significant cemeteries of early settlers in the area, including that of Col. William Martin, pioneer of the region and eldest son of General Joseph Martin of Virginia. Dixon Springs was settled prior to 1787 by its namesake, Tilman Dixon, Revolutionary War soldier, where his historic home, Dixona, site of the first Smith County court meeting, still stands. The ZIP code for Dixon Springs is 37057 and covers a very broad area even beyond Dixon Springs to include the communities of Hillsdale and Cato in Macon and Trousdale counties, respectively.