Founded in 1991, CASP provides legal assistance and representation to individuals and organizations being SLAPPed in California courts, and engages in policy advocacy in the Legislature to improve the functioning of the anti-SLAPP law.
CASP led a statewide coalition to secure enactment of the California anti-SLAPP law in 1991 and 1992, as well as strengthening amendments in 1997 and 1999. CASP was also a co-sponsor of SB 789 (Kuehl) in 2002, which was intended to prevent corporate abuse of the anti-SLAPP law. The legislation was signed into law in 2003, creating new section 425.17 of the Code of Civil Procedure. CASP was also the sponsor of AB 1158 (Lieber) of 2005, which amended the anti-SLAPP law and created new section 425.18 of the Code of Civil Procedure, dealing with SLAPPbacks.
CASP's founder and director is attorney Mark Goldowitz. Goldowitz has specialized in First Amendment and anti-SLAPP issues since 1993, and has written and lectured widely on the California anti-SLAPP law. His anti-SLAPP expertise has been recognized in four appellate opinions. He is a 1972 graduate of Harvard Law School and a member of the California Bar.
Goldowitz has prevailed in many SLAPP cases, including six resulting in published appellate opinions, including the first such opinion by the California Supreme Court:
Barrett v. Rosenthal (Supreme Court, 2006)
Thomas v. Quintero (Ct.App.1st Dist., 2005)
Briggs v. Eden Council for Hope and Opportunity (Supreme Court, 1999)
Kyle v. Carmon (Ct.App.3d Dist., 1999)
Coltrain v. Shewalter (Ct.App.4th Dist., 1998)
Church of Scientology v. Wollersheim (Ct.App.2d Dist., 1996)