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 in 1991 and 1992 to secure enactment of the California anti-SLAPP law; led statewide coalitions in 1997, 1999, and 2005 that resulted in amendments to strengthen the anti-SLAPP law; and co-sponsored a bill that eventually amended the anti-SLAPP law in 2003.
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. 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)