Related Practices

Admitted to Practice

District of Columbia
Maryland
U.S. Court of Appeals D.C. Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals 10th Circuit
U.S. District Court District of Columbia
U.S. District Court District of Maryland
U.S. District Court Southern District of New York

Ronald G. London

Of Counsel

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Washington, D.C.

T202.973.4235

F202.973.4435

Ronnie London represents clients regarding media and communications, privacy, advertising, and accessibility matters. This includes advising clients such as online and traditional media providers in matters before federal and state courts and the FCC and FTC, and on general regulatory compliance. He also provides counsel and strategic advice on a broad range of litigation, administrative, enforcement and legislative matters related to communications, the media, and all aspects of consumer privacy. His practice includes Freedom of Information Act matters before the courts and federal agencies as well. Ronnie is the editor of Davis Wright Tremaine's Privacy and Security Law Blog, PrivSecBlog.com.

Representative Experience

CBS Corp. v. FCC

Represents CBS Corporation in a successful challenge to FCC indecency finding and $550,000 forfeiture penalty levied against CBS for the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show featuring Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake. On June 29, 2012, the Supreme Court denied certiorari. (3d Cir., U.S. 2012)

FCC v. Fox Television Stations and ABC, Inc.

Represented CBS Corporation in a consolidated appeal challenging the FCC's application of broadcast indecency rules to "fleeting expletives" in live awards shows and brief nudity in the program "NYPD Blue." On June 21, 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court held that FCC decisions targeting “fleeting” broadcasts of allegedly indecent material were unconstitutional under the Due Process Clause. (U.S .2012)

Garcia v. Montgomery County et al.

Representing photojournalist and video producer Mannie Garcia in a federal civil rights action against Montgomery County, the Montgomery County Police Department, the Chief of Police, and individual police officers for falsely arresting Mr. Garcia and using excessive force while he filmed another arrest on a public street. (D. Md. Ongoing)

GLAD v. Time Warner

Representing Time Warner in class action lawsuit involving defense of claims under California's Unruh Civil Rights Act and Disabled Persons Act regarding closed captioning of news videos appearing on CNN.com. (N.D. Cal. & 9th Cir. U.S. Ongoing)

Mortensen v. Bresnan Communications

Representing Internet service provider Bresnan Communications in federal privacy lawsuit challenging the use of ad-targeting technology. Won dismissal and currently on appeal to the 9th Circuit. (D. Mont.; 9th Cir. Ongoing)

Valentine v. Nebuad

Obtained dismissal on lack of jurisdiction, on behalf of Internet service provider Bresnan Communications in federal privacy lawsuit challenging the use of deep-packet inspection technology (2009). Won dismissal of sister-case in Montana and currently on appeal in the 9th Circuit. (Ongoing)

ACLU v. Office of Director of National Intelligence, et. al.

Secured for national civil liberties organization a federal court order in 2011 requiring more detailed explanation from agencies that withheld records under the Freedom of Information Act relating to intelligence community's use of sweeping electronic surveillance powers under the 2008 FISA Amendments Act. (S.D.N.Y. 2011)

Discount Tobacco City & Lottery, Inc. v. U.S.

Submitted amicus briefs in Supreme Court, Sixth Circuit and district court in support of First Amendment rights of marketers and advertisers against advertising, marketing, and packaging provisions of Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. (Ongoing)

R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. U.S.

Submitted amicus briefs in D.C. Circuit and district court in support of First Amendment rights of marketers and advertisers against tobacco advertising and packaging graphic warnings labels under Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. (D.C. Cir. 2012)

Florida Medical Association, Inc. v. Department of Health, Education and Welfare

Represents the publisher of The Wall Street Journal in an effort to overturn a decades-old injunction. The injunction, obtained by the American Medical Association and others in 1979, blocks public access to Medicare reimbursement records containing evidence of Medicare fraud. No. 78-178-Civ-J-S (M.D. Fla. Ongoing)

Sorrell v. IMS Health Inc.

Submitted amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court in support of First Amendment rights of marketers and advertisers against Vermont statute requiring "opt-in" for any use of prescriber-identifiable data regarding prescription drug information. The Court held 6-3 that the state cannot restrict commercial speech for being too persuasive. Read the amicus brief. (U.S. 2011)

Gulf Power Co. v. FCC

Represented cable operators in successfully defending on appeal victory in pole attachment complaint against Gulf Power, after defendant terminated pole attachment agreements and demanded new ones with 600 percent rate increases. (D.C. Cir. 2012)

Asis Internet Services et al v. Active Response Group, Inc.

Litigation surrounding the terms of a protective order which would govern disclosure of various internal, company, and client email addresses. Judge awarded defendant's motion to dismiss. (2007) Read more

Huminski v. Corsones

Counsel for plaintiff in a case holding that individual members of the public have a First Amendment right to attend court proceedings. (2d Cir. 2006)

Mainstream Marketing Services, Inc. v. FTC

Counsel in litigation challenging the constitutionality of the national "do-not-call" telemarketing regulation. (10th Cir. 2004) Read more

Motion Picture Association of America v. FCC

Represented the Motion Picture Association of America, the National Association of Broadcasters, and the National Cable & Telecommunications Association in successful challenge to FCC rules imposing mandates for video description of television programming. (D.C. Cir. 2002)

Professional & Community Activities

Co-chair, Video Programming and Distribution Committee, Federal Communications Bar Association, 2011-2012
Inaugural Co-chair, Privacy and Security Committee, Federal Communications Bar Association, 2007-2008
Co-chair, National Telecommunications Moot Court Competition Committee, Federal Communications Bar Association, 2005-2007

Education

J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, 1995, cum laude
- Dean's List
- Member of Barrister's Council
- Administrative Editor, Georgetown Journal on Law and Policy in International Business
- Law Fellow, Legal Research and Writing Program
- Coach, Cardozo Entertainment Law National Moot Court Team, 1993-95
- Member, NACDL Trial Team, 1994-95
B.S., Advertising, University of Florida, 1990, summa cum laude
- Repess Award as Outstanding Advertising Graduate, 1990-91
- Kappa Tau Alpha Journalism and Communications Honor Society