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.
Bainbridge Island is an island-city in Kitsap County, Washington, United States, located in Puget Sound. The population was 20,308 at the 2000 census but is now estimated at over 26,000. In July 2005, CNN/Money and Money magazine named Bainbridge Island the second-best place to live in the United States. Its crime rate is also significantly below the national average. The local newspapers are the Bainbridge Island Review (weekly) and the Kitsap Sun (a daily that also produces the weekly Islander). The Bainbridge Conversation and the Voice of Bainbridge are two blogs with regular commentary on island issues.