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.
Stephens City is an incorporated town in southern part of Frederick County, Virginia, United States and is a part of the Winchester, Virginia-West Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,146 at the 2000 census, and estimated to be 1,446 in 2006. The town was founded by and named for Lewis Stephens in September of 1758. Stephens City is the second oldest in the Shenandoah Valley behind near by Winchester. The town celebrated its bicenquinquagenary, or 250th anniversary, on September 1, 2008. A large section of the center of the town is part of the Newtown-Stephensburg Historic District, a nationally recognized historic district.