Legal Definitions - class-based animus

Class-based animus refers to hostility, ill will, or prejudice directed towards a specific group of people who share a common characteristic or status. In a legal context, it often describes an improper or discriminatory motive behind an action, policy, or law that targets an identifiable "class" of individuals. This "class" can be defined by socioeconomic status, occupation, housing type, or any other shared attribute that distinguishes them as a group.

Here are some examples to illustrate class-based animus:

• Imagine a city council that passes a zoning ordinance making it extremely difficult for small, independent food trucks to operate within city limits, imposing high permit fees and strict location restrictions. During public hearings, some council members make disparaging remarks about "transient vendors" and "unprofessional businesses" that "clutter" the city, while simultaneously promoting policies favorable to established, brick-and-mortar restaurants. This could be seen as class-based animus if the true motivation behind the ordinance is not public safety or traffic flow, but rather a prejudice against small business owners who operate mobile food services, viewing them as an undesirable class of entrepreneurs.

• Consider a state legislature that enacts a new tax law that disproportionately burdens individuals who receive government assistance, such as unemployment benefits or housing subsidies. The legislative debate includes statements from lawmakers suggesting that these individuals are "lazy" or "undeserving" and that the new tax will encourage them to "pull themselves up by their bootstraps." If the primary intent behind this tax is not to raise revenue fairly but to express disdain and impose hardship on people receiving public aid, it could be evidence of class-based animus against those in lower socioeconomic strata or those dependent on state support.

• A neighborhood association, composed primarily of long-term homeowners, implements a new rule that prohibits residents from parking commercial vehicles, such as work vans or trucks, on public streets overnight. While the stated reason is to maintain aesthetic appeal, the rule is primarily enforced against a specific group of newer residents who are tradespeople (e.g., plumbers, electricians, landscapers) and rely on their work vehicles for their livelihood. If the underlying motivation for the rule is a prejudice against these working-class residents and their professions, rather than a genuine concern for neighborhood appearance, it could demonstrate class-based animus.