Public Participation Project
The Public Participation Project (formerly Federal Anti-SLAPP Project) is sponsored by the California Anti-SLAPP Project (CASP). CASP was instrumental in the passage of the California anti-SLAPP law and subsequent amendments, upon which much of the proposed federal law is based. CASP started the Federal project in response to a growing concern that, because many states lack anti-SLAPP laws, and the extent to which state laws apply in federal court is unclear, a person's First Amendment rights would depend on where they spoke out, or where they were sued.
Founder and President
Mark Goldowitz is the Founder and President of the Public Participation Project. He defends SLAPP targets in California. He graduated from Harvard Law School in 1972. After working for Greater Boston Legal Services and Bronx Legal Services, he returned to his native California, where he became the Executive Director of Contra Costa Legal Services Foundation. In 1991, he founded the California Anti-SLAPP Project, in response to SLAPPs against him and his clients by the owners of mobile home parks. Since that time, in addition to defending SLAPP victims in California, he has worked to pass and strengthen the California anti-SLAPP law and to enact federal anti-SLAPP legislation.
Tel: (510) 486-9123
Email: mg@casp.net
Executive Director
Nancy A. Long is the Executive Director of the Public Participation Project.
(Bio under construction.)
Tel: (202) 588-7732
Email: nlong@anti-slapp.org
Legislative Director
Peter Kurdock is the Legislative Director for the Public Participation Project. Previously, he was an Associate Director of Policy for the American Association for Justice (formerly the Association of Trial Lawyers of America). Kurdock has also served as a Legislative Aide to U.S. Senator Frank R. Lautenberg and Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. He received his law degree from Seton Hall University School of Law in 2005 and was an associate with a large New York City based law firm.
Tel: (202) 664-3796
Email: pkurdock@anti-slapp.org
Field Director
Justin Kurtz is the Field Director for the Public Participation Project. He is a senior at Western Michigan University's College of Aviation where he is pursuing a degree in aviation flight science. Justin, the the victim of a $750,000 SLAPP, is currently fighting his case in Michigan after starting a Facebook page about the poor business practices of a towing company in Kalamazoo. His facebook page currently has over 14,000 supporters and his case was the subject of a front page article in The New York Times. Justin recently testified before the Michigan Legislature on behalf of anti- SLAPP legislation.
Tel: (269) 532-4368
Email: jkurtz@anti-slapp.org
Public Participation Coalition
The Coalition in support of the Citizen Participation Act, H.R. 4364, recognizes the threat that frivolous lawsuits pose to First Amendment rights. Consumer rights advocates, environment defense groups, legal reformers and at-home bloggers represent just some of the supporters of the Citizen Participation Act. See a full list of our coalition members here.