A civil right is an enforceable right or privilege, which if interfered with by another gives rise to an action for injury. Examples of civil rights are freedom of speech, press, and assembly; the right to vote; freedom from involuntary servitude; and the right to equality in public places. Discrimination occurs when the civil rights of an individual are denied or interfered with because of their membership in a particular group or class. Statutes have been enacted to prevent discrimination based on race, sex, religion, age, previous condition of servitude, physical limitation, national origin, and in some instances sexual preference. Civil rights attorneys handle cases involving the rights of individuals to be free from unequal treatment (or discrimination) based on legally-protected characteristics such as race, gender, disability, national origin, age, sexual orientation, and religion. Civil rights cases can arise in a number of settings -- including employment, housing, lending, and education.
Casnovia is a village in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on the boundary between Muskegon County and Kent County and lies partially within both. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 315. The village is located partially within the Casnovia Township, Michigan. Casnovia is believed to be the only place on Earth with that name, now or at any time in the past. The name is a distortion of the settlement's original name, Casanova Town, founded by Jedediah Craw in 1852. Craw was a Mormon with four wives, all teenagers at the time of his arrival in the area. The name Casanova Town was most likely bestowed on Craw's compound by neighbors, as a reference to his polygamous lifestyle. The settlement grew along what is now Ball Creek, and took the name Casnovia in 1861.