Admitted to Practice | Washington, 1977 | | California, 1992 | | U.S. District Court Western District of Washington, 1977 | | U.S. District Court Eastern District of Washington, 1980 | | U.S. District Court Northern District of California | | U.S. District Court Southern District of California | | U.S. District Court Eastern District of California | | U.S. District Court Central District of California | | U.S. Supreme Court, 1983 | | U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, 2004 | | U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 1978 | | U.S. Court of Appeals 10th Circuit, 1984 |
| Bruce Johnson, a veteran litigator, represents information industry clients on issues involving media and communications law as well as technology and intellectual property matters. His expertise includes advising on First Amendment law issues, particularly involving commercial speech, commercial transactions and consumer rights. The author of Washington's Reporter's Shield Law, Bruce also works extensively on journalist privilege issues, regularly defending reporters, editors and other members of the media. He also represents national clients on privacy and security matters, online and advertising liability risks, and defamation cases. Selected Experience Meredith Corporation 2009 Successfully represented Meredith Corporation, owner of KPTV in Portland, in motion to dismiss and subsequent motion for reconsideration in a lawsuit brought by plaintiff alleging a new theory of invasion of privacy through the publicity of her identity as the subject of allegedly false and unsubstantiated allegations. Theatre Communications Group 2009 Presented amicus brief on behalf of 444 theatres in support of First Amendment Right of Theatres and Actors to perform plays involving smokers and smoking. On December 14, 2009, the Colorado Supreme Court rejected the Theatre’s constitutional challenge, holding that the State could outlaw all on-stage smoking of whatever kind. Media defendants 2009 In federal court, represented media defendants accused by the plaintiff of defamation. Defendants won a dismissal with prejudice on grounds that the two-year statute of limitations had expired. KIRO Inc. 2009 Represented local television station in a motion to unseal summary judgment documents filed in a discrimination lawsuit brought by a former news anchor. The court ordered the documents to be unsealed with only a few redactions. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) 2009 Represented CBC in granting an order, in part, to intervene and unseal documents from federal criminal court files for use in its television program "The Fifth Estate." Canadian Broadcasting Company (CBC) 2009 Represented intervenor CBC in motions to intervene and unseal criminal records filed in a cross-border drug smuggling case. Motions were filed in the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Washington. The courts granted the motions in part. Media clients of Davis Wright Tremaine 2008 Submitted amicus brief on behalf of media amici in 9th Circuit's en banc review of the scope of immunity afforded by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act to mixed-content Web sites. The Seattle Times Company 2008 Represented the Seattle Times in an unusual lawsuit alleging civil rights violations arising from the newspaper's coverage of a recruiting scandal involving two high school basketball coaches. The district court granted the Times's motion to dismiss because it concluded that there were no valid allegations of conspiracy or of interference in contractual relations stemming from news coverage. AVVO 2007 Defended attorney evaluation Web site. Court granted motion to dismiss on First Amendment opinion grounds, also holding that distribution of information is not “commerce” under state consumer protection laws. Sequim Gazette 2007 Represented defendant in favorable application of public reports privilege by Division II in defamation lawsuit, affirming dismissal of case on the pleadings. Hachette Brook Group USA Inc. 2007 Secured summary judgment dismissing defamation and false light claims brought by “father of DOS” computer operating system against book publisher, author and researcher on grounds that statements in suit were protected opinion or were not published with actual malice. Kaspersky Lab, Inc 2007 Summary judgment dismissing lawsuit against distributor of anti-malware products, recognizing "robust" immunity under 47 U.S.C. § 230(c)(2) enabling consumer access to information about potentially "objectionable" software. In 2009, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit affirmed the lower court's 2007 dismissal. Penguin Group 2006 Won dismissal of copyright lawsuit against book publisher on jurisdictional grounds. EchoStar Satellite Corporation 2006 Represented defendant in a First Amendment challenge to regulations barring telephone solicitation, but the court declined our clients' motion to dismiss. The Seattle Times Co. 2005 Affirmed dismissal of lawsuit alleging unfair trade practice liability by the newspaper’s real estate news articles and mortgage rate advertising policies, resulting in a sanctions award against the plaintiff and his attorney. Local broadcaster 2004 Granted summary judgment dismissing false light, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and outrage claims by former public official. CBS Outdoor 2003 Represented client in successful challenge to county sign ordinance. Additional Qualifications Professional and Community Activities
- Member; Chair, 1999-2000, Media Law and Defamation Torts Committee, Tort and Insurance Practice Section – American Bar Association
- Member; Executive Committee, 2000-2005; President, 2004 – Defense Counsel Section, Media Law Resource Center
- Media Law Reporter Advisory Board, 2005-present
- Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers
- Chair Emeritus, 2006-present; Board member, 1993-present; Chair, 2004-2006; President, 1999-2001 – Seattle Repertory Theatre Board of Trustees
- Board Member, Seattle Repertory Theatre Foundation Board of Trustees, 2006-present
- National Council for the American Theater, 2005-present
- Board Member President, Pacific Musicworks (formerly known as Pacific Operaworks), 2007-present
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Professional Recognition
- Named as one of "America's Leading Lawyers for Business” by Chambers USA in First Amendment Litigation (National), 2007-2009
- Named as one of the “Best Lawyers in America” in First Amendment Law by Woodward/White, 1993-present; named in Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law, 2010
- Selected to "Washington Super Lawyers," Law & Politics, 2008-2009
- Named as one of "155 Top Lawyers" by Seattle Magazine and Seattle Business Monthly, 2007
- Avvo Rated
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Education M.A., University of Cambridge, 1978 J.D., Yale Law School, 1977 B.A., University of Cambridge, 1974 A.B., Harvard College, 1972, magna cum laude | |