Русско-англо-русский юридический словарь

There is a non-contractual obligation where a person who is responsible for loss sustained by another person is required to compensate the victim, in cases not linked to the performance of a contract, such as traffic accidents, environmental damage or defamation. (ec.europa.eu)

Criminal law is the body of law that relates to crime. It regulates social conduct and prescribes whatever is threatening, harmful, or otherwise endangering to the property, health, safety, and moral welfare of people. It includes the punishment of people who violate these laws. Criminal law varies according to jurisdiction, and differs from civil law, where emphasis is more on dispute resolution and victim compensation than on punishment. (Wikipedia)

A civil case is a legal case involving civil law or common law, which involves disputes between individuals or organizations in which some form of compensation may be awarded to the victim. Criminal law, on the other hand, involves cases in which the state is against an individual as the individual has broken the state's laws. A civil case may also be referred to as civil action, civil proceedings, or a civil suit. Civil cases are almost exclusively intended to correct private issues such as breaches of contracts or various negligence issues. Public issues that affect individuals and the functioning of society as a whole are typically handled in criminal court. (WiseGEEK)

For years the families of victims of the Hillsborough stadium disaster have been searching for justice, looking to uncover a conspiracy to conceal the truth. (BBC News)