Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Class-Based Animus
Class-Based Animus refers to a prejudicial disposition towards a particular group of people, usually a group that is constitutionally protected. It is a form of ill will or animosity towards a specific class of people.
For example, if a landlord refuses to rent an apartment to someone because of their race, that would be considered class-based animus. Similarly, if an employer refuses to hire someone because of their gender, that would also be class-based animus.
Class-Based Animus is an essential element of a civil-rights conspiracy case, as it involves discrimination against a protected class of people.
These examples illustrate how class-based animus can manifest in different forms of discrimination against protected classes of people.