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{{Short description|American lawyer (1952–2023)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Jonathan Cuneo
| name = Jonathan Cuneo
| image =
| image =
| image_size =
| image_size =
| caption =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1952|9|10|mf=y}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1952|9|10}}
| birth_place = [[New York, NY]]
| birth_place = [[New York City, New York]], U.S.
| death_date =
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2023|7|26|1952|9|10}}
| death_place =
| death_place = [[Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts]], U.S.
| education = [[Columbia University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br>[[Cornell Law School|Cornell University]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])
| nationality = [[United States]]
⚫
| occupation = [[Lawyer|Attorney]]
| alma_mater = [[Columbia University]]<br>[[Cornell Law School]]
⚫
| employer = [[Cuneo Gilbert & LaDuca, LLP]]
⚫
| occupation = [[Lawyer|Attorney]]
| spouse = [[Mara Liasson]]
⚫
| employer = [[Cuneo Gilbert & LaDuca, LLP]]
| spouse = [[Mara Liasson]]
| father = [[Ernest Cuneo]]
}}
}}
⚫
'''Jonathan W. Cuneo''' (born September 10, 1952) is an American lawyer who has represented clients in state and federal litigation and in government relations in the fields of [[antitrust]], civil and [[human rights]], [[consumer protection]], [[corporate governance]] and [[securities]] for over three decades.


⚫
'''Jonathan W. Cuneo''' (September 10, 1952 – July 26, 2023) was an American lawyer who represented clients in state and federal litigation and in government relations in the fields of [[antitrust]], civil and [[human rights]], [[consumer protection]], [[corporate governance]] and [[securities]] for over three decades.
⚫
He is a partner of the law firm [[Cuneo Gilbert & LaDuca, LLP]], a government servant, an affiliate of national legal oversight institutions, and a contributor to many legal publications. He has received the highest [[Martindale-Hubbell]] Peer Review Rating of AV.<ref>[http://www.martindale.com/Jonathan-W-Cuneo/348211-lawyer.htm Jonathan Cuneo's profile at Martindale-Hubbell]</ref><ref>[http://www.martindale.com/xp/legal/About_Martindale/Products_and_Services/Peer_Review_Ratings/ratings.xml Guide to Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings]</ref>


⚫
Cuneo was a partner of the law firm [[Cuneo Gilbert & LaDuca, LLP]], a government servant, an affiliate of national legal oversight institutions, and a contributor to many legal publications. He received the highest [[Martindale-Hubbell]] Peer Review Rating of AV.<ref name="mhprofile">{{cite web |website=martindale.com |url=http://www.martindale.com/Jonathan-W-Cuneo/348211-lawyer.htm |title=Jonathan Cuneo's profile at Martindale-Hubbell}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |website=martindale.com |url=http://www.martindale.com/xp/legal/About_Martindale/Products_and_Services/Peer_Review_Ratings/ratings.xml |title=Guide to Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings}}</ref>
⚫
==Early career and education==


⚫
==Early life and education==
After receiving his undergraduate degree from Columbia University and his law degree from Cornell Law School, Cuneo clerked for Judge Edward Tamm of the [[U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia]] Circuit until 1978.<ref>[http://www.martindale.com/Jonathan-W-Cuneo/348211-lawyer.htm Jonathan Cuneo's profile at Martindale-Hubbell]</ref> After completing his clerkship, he worked as an attorney in the Office of the General Counsel of the [[Federal Trade Commission]] until 1981.
⚫
Jonathan W. Cuneo was the son of Margaret Watson Cuneo, a member of the British Intelligence in World War II, and [[Ernest Cuneo]], a lawyer, newspaperman, former [[National Football League]] player and aide to [[Fiorello LaGuardia]]. Ernest Cuneo also served as an intelligence liaison between [[Office of Strategic Services]] chief [[William J. Donovan|William Donovan]] and [[Sir William Stephenson]], who headed British Intelligence.<ref>{{cite book|last=Conant|first=Jennet|title=The Irregulars: Roald Dahl and the British Spy Ring in Wartime Washington|publisher=Simon and Schuster|year=2008}}</ref>


Cuneo earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from [[Columbia University]] and his [[Juris Doctor]] from [[Cornell Law School]], following which he clerked for Judge Edward Tamm of the [[U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia]] Circuit until 1978.<ref name="mhprofile" />
==Professional history==


===Government service===
== Career ==
After completing his clerkship, he worked as an attorney in the Office of the General Counsel of the [[Federal Trade Commission]] until 1981.


====1981-1986====
===Government service===
Subsequent to his tenure at the FTC, Cuneo served as assistant counsel and then counsel to the [[Subcommittee on Monopolies and Commercial Law]] of the [[United States House Committee on the Judiciary]]. There, Cuneo counseled Congressman and Committee Chairman [[Peter W. Rodino]] (D-NJ) regarding many antitrust issues. He also assisted in the Committee's consideration of potential [[balanced budget|budget-balancing]] amendments to the [[United States Constitution]] in 1982. He conducted a large-scale committee investigation and successfully advocated for oversight of the insurance industry.<ref>[http://www.antitrustinstitute.org/node/10102 Jonathan Cuneo's AAI Senate testimony on the Exxon/Mobil merger]</ref>
Subsequent to his tenure at the FTC, Cuneo served as assistant counsel and then counsel to the Subcommittee on Monopolies and Commercial Law of the [[United States House Committee on the Judiciary]]. There, Cuneo counseled Congressman and Committee Chairman [[Peter W. Rodino]] regarding many antitrust issues. He also assisted in the Committee's consideration of potential [[balanced budget|budget-balancing]] amendments to the [[United States Constitution]] in 1982. He conducted a large-scale committee investigation and successfully advocated for oversight of the insurance industry.<ref>{{cite web |website=antitrustinstute.org |url=http://www.antitrustinstitute.org/node/10102 |title=Jonathan Cuneo's AAI Senate testimony on the Exxon/Mobil merger}}</ref>


⚫
From 1986, Cuneo served as [[General Counsel]] and Legislative Representative to the Committee to Support Antitrust Laws ("COSAL"). He also co-founded the National Association of Securities and Commercial Law Attorneys ("NASCAT") <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nascat.org/ |title=Home |website=NASCAT |date= |accessdate=November 2, 2010}}</ref> in 1988, and served as its general counsel from 1988 until 2004.
====1986-present====
⚫
Since 1986, Cuneo has served as [[General Counsel]] and Legislative Representative to the [[Committee to Support Antitrust Laws]] ("COSAL"). He also co-founded the [[National Association of Securities and Commercial Law Attorneys]] ("NASCAT") <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nascat.org/ |title=Home |publisher=NASCAT |date= |accessdate=2010-11-02}}</ref> in 1988, and served as its general counsel from 1988 until 2004.


===Litigation===
===Litigation===


===="Joe Camel" Case====
====Joe Camel Case====
Cuneo served as Washington counsel in the first case to challenge the "[[Joe Camel]]" cigarette advertising campaign. The action was filed in [[Supreme Court of California|California state court]] in 1991 well before the [[U.S. Attorney General]] began tobacco litigation. This litigation led to the release of documents that revealed [[R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company]] had studied under-aged smokers with a view toward selling cigarettes and consequently induced youths to start smoking through targeted advertising.<ref>{{cite web|author=Gene Borio |url=http://www.tobacco.org/resources/history/Tobacco_Historynotes.html |title=Tobacco Timeline-NOTES |publisher=Tobacco.org |date= |accessdate=2010-11-02}}</ref> Congressman Henry Waxman called Cuneo and his colleagues "American Heroes" for their release of these documents.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cuneolaw.com/accomplishments/ |title=Cuneo Gilbert & LaDuca LLP - Home |publisher=Cuneolaw.com |date= |accessdate=2010-11-02}}</ref>
Cuneo served as Washington counsel in the first case to challenge the [[Joe Camel]] cigarette advertising campaign. The action was filed in [[Supreme Court of California|California state court]] in 1991 well before the [[U.S. Attorney General]] began tobacco litigation. This litigation led to the release of documents that revealed [[R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company]] had studied under-aged smokers with a view toward selling cigarettes and consequently induced youths to start smoking through targeted advertising.<ref>{{cite web |author=Gene Borio |url=http://www.tobacco.org/resources/history/Tobacco_Historynotes.html |title=Tobacco Timeline-NOTES |website=Tobacco.org |date= |accessdate=November 2, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101009095530/http://www.tobacco.org/resources/history/Tobacco_Historynotes.html |archive-date=October 9, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Congressman Henry Waxman called Cuneo and his colleagues "American Heroes" for their release of these documents.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cuneolaw.com/accomplishments/ |title=Cuneo Gilbert & LaDuca LLP - Home |website=Cuneolaw.com |date= |accessdate=November 2, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101104124115/http://cuneolaw.com/accomplishments/ |archive-date=November 4, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


====Enron====
====Enron====
Cuneo served as Washington counsel on behalf of defrauded investors in [[Enron]] from 2002 through 2008. This Enron Securities Litigation recovered over $7 billion, the largest in the history of federal securities litigation.<ref>[http://www.cuneolaw.com/accomplishments/#Enron cuneolaw.com writeup of Enron litigation]</ref>
Cuneo served as Washington counsel on behalf of defrauded investors in [[Enron]] from 2002 through 2008. This Enron Securities Litigation recovered over $7 billion, the largest in the history of federal securities litigation.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cuneolaw.com/accomplishments/#Enron |title=cuneolaw.com writeup of Enron litigation |access-date=October 30, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101104124115/http://cuneolaw.com/accomplishments/#Enron |archive-date=November 4, 2010 |url-status=dead |website=cuneolaw.com}}</ref>


====Hungarian Gold Train====
====Hungarian Gold Train====
Cuneo's firm, [[Cuneo Gilbert & LaDuca, LLP]], successfully represented Hungarian Holocaust Survivors seeking restitution and an accounting against the United States government in the [[Hungarian Gold Train]] case,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F03E2DE113CF93AA3575BC0A9629C8B63 |title=Justice for 'Gold Train' Victims - Editorial - NYTimes.com |location=Hungary |publisher=New York Times |date=2004-08-09 |accessdate=2010-11-02}}</ref> which was settled for $25.5 million in 2005 after nearly five years of litigation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allbusiness.com/middle-east/israel/534179-1.html |title=U.S. to Apologize for WWII Seizures. &#124; Europe > Eastern Europe from |publisher=AllBusiness.com |date= |accessdate=2010-11-02}}</ref> The settlement's terms also included an apology from the Bush Administration for the conduct of the U.S. Army.
Cuneo's firm, [[Cuneo Gilbert & LaDuca, LLP]], successfully represented Hungarian Holocaust Survivors seeking restitution and an accounting against the United States government in the [[Hungarian Gold Train]] case,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F03E2DE113CF93AA3575BC0A9629C8B63 |title=Justice for 'Gold Train' Victims - Editorial - NYTimes.com |location=Hungary |work=The New York Times|date=August 9, 2004 |accessdate=November 2, 2010}}</ref> which was settled for $25.5 million in 2005 after nearly five years of litigation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allbusiness.com/middle-east/israel/534179-1.html |title=U.S. to Apologize for WWII Seizures. &#124; Europe > Eastern Europe from |website=AllBusiness.com |date= |accessdate=November 2, 2010}}</ref> The settlement's terms also included an apology from the Bush Administration for the conduct of the U.S. Army.

==== Entran II ====
In one of the largest product defect recoveries in recent history, Cuneo and his partner Charles LaDuca served as lead counsel in a bi-national settlement that provided $340 million to homeowners for the defective radiant heating hose known as Entran II.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cash-payment-available-for-homeowners-with-entran-ii-radiant-heating-and-snow-melting-systems-58576862.html|title=Cash Payment Available for Homeowners with Entran II Radiant Heating and Snow Melting Systems|last=Administrator|first=Entran II Claims|website=www.prnewswire.com|access-date=2016-07-18}}</ref>


==== Metromail ====
==== Metromail ====
Cuneo's firm brought a path-breaking class action suit against Metromail for privacy violations surrounding supermarket questionnaires. After a woman in Ohio received a sexually suggestive letter from a maximum security inmate in Texas, it came to light that the company had subcontracted for Texas prisoners to "key" the questionnaire information.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://epic.org/privacy/profiling/|title=EPIC - Privacy and Consumer Profiling|last=Center|first=Electronic Privacy Information|website=epic.org|access-date=2016-07-18}}</ref> Cuneo's firm settled the case for significant injunctive relief, and a cash pool of $15 million was made available to victims.
Cuneo's firm brought a path-breaking class action suit against Metromail for privacy violations surrounding supermarket questionnaires. After a woman in Ohio received a sexually suggestive letter from a maximum security inmate in Texas, it came to light that the company had subcontracted for Texas prisoners to "key" the questionnaire information.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://epic.org/privacy/profiling/|title=EPIC - Privacy and Consumer Profiling|website=Electronic Privacy Information Center|access-date=July 18, 2016}}</ref> Cuneo's firm settled the case for significant injunctive relief, and a cash pool of $15 million was made available to victims.


==== Prudential ====
==== Prudential ====
Cuneo's firm represented individual claimants against Prudential Insurance Company in post-settlement proceedings after a class action charging that Prudential had abused policyholders through deceptive sales practices. Over a period of eighteen months, his firm oversaw approximately 55,000 arbitration-like proceeding in this $4 billion settlement.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/rfi/press/prudent.htm|title=Prudential Has Paid $1 Billion To Class-Action Policyholders|last=LOHSE|first=DEBORAH|date=June 7, 1999|website=|publisher=Harvard Cyberlaw News|access-date=2016-07-18}}</ref>
Cuneo's firm represented individual claimants against Prudential Insurance Company in post-settlement proceedings after a class action charging that Prudential had abused policyholders through deceptive sales practices. Over a period of eighteen months, his firm oversaw approximately 55,000 arbitration-like proceeding in this $4 billion settlement.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/rfi/press/prudent.htm|title=Prudential Has Paid $1 Billion To Class-Action Policyholders|last=Lohse|first=Deborah |date=June 7, 1999|website=cyber.law.harvard.edu|publisher=Harvard Cyberlaw News|access-date=July 18, 2016}}</ref>


==Controversy==
===Controversy===
Working for the plaintiff's securities bar, Cuneo was the lead lobbyist opposing passage of the [[Private Securities Litigation Reform Act]] in 1995. Although the coalition Cuneo led was unsuccessful in preventing passage of the bill, some of its more extreme provisions were defeated as the Supreme Court recently recognized in Amgen v. Connecticut Retirement Plans and Trust Funds, (Feb. 26, 2013).<ref>https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/12pdf/11-1085_9o6b.pdf</ref> After President [[Bill Clinton]] vetoed the bill in December 1995, Congress overruled that veto, the only veto override of the [[Presidency of Bill Clinton|Clinton Presidency]].<ref>Dillon, Patrick and Carl M. Cannon. 2010. ''Circle of Greed: The Spectacular Rise and Fall of the Lawyer Who Brought Corporate America to Its Knees.'' New York: Broadway Books. {{ISBN|978-0767929943}}.</ref>
Working for the plaintiff's securities bar, Cuneo was the lead lobbyist opposing passage of the [[Private Securities Litigation Reform Act]] in 1995. Although the coalition Cuneo led was unsuccessful in preventing passage of the bill, some of its more extreme provisions were defeated as the Supreme Court recognized in Amgen v. Connecticut Retirement Plans and Trust Funds (2013).<ref>{{cite web |website=supremecourt.gov |publisher=Supreme Court of the United States |title=AMGEN INC. ET AL. v. CONNECTICUT RETIREMENT PLANS AND TRUST FUNDS |url=https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/12pdf/11-1085_9o6b.pdf |date=February 27, 2013}}</ref> After President [[Bill Clinton]] vetoed the bill in December 1995, Congress overruled that veto, the only veto override of the [[Presidency of Bill Clinton|Clinton Presidency]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Dillon |first1=Patrick |first2=Carl M. |last2=Cannon |year=2010 |title=Circle of Greed: The Spectacular Rise and Fall of the Lawyer Who Brought Corporate America to Its Knees |location=New York |publisher=Broadway Books |isbn=978-0767929943}}.</ref>


==Authorship==
===Authorship===
Cuneo has authored numerous pieces in newspapers and professional journals, including the [[New York Times]], Yale Human Rights & Development Law Journal, [[Georgetown Law Journal]], [[The George Washington Law Review]], [[The Nation]],<ref>[http://www.martindale.com/Jonathan-W-Cuneo/348211-lawyer.htm Jonathan Cuneo's profile at Martindale-Hubbell]</ref> and the [[Legal Times]].<ref>Waldman, Michael and Jonathan W. Cuneo. ''Business Forum: Doom For Discounters?'' The New York Times. May 15, 1988.</ref> He is the co-editor of ''The International Handbook on Private Enforcement of Competition Law'',<ref>Foer, Albert A. and Jonathan W. Cuneo. 2011. ''The International Handbook on Private Enforcement of Competition Law.'' Edward Elgar Publishing. {{ISBN|978-1848448773}}.</ref> published in the U.S. in January 2011.
Cuneo has authored numerous pieces in newspapers and professional journals, including ''[[The New York Times]]'', ''Yale Human Rights & Development Law Journal'', ''[[Georgetown Law Journal]]'', ''[[The George Washington Law Review]]'', ''[[The Nation]]'',<ref name="mhprofile" /> and the ''[[Legal Times]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Waldman |first1=Michael |first2=Jonathan W. |last2=Cuneo |title=Business Forum: Doom For Discounters? |work=The New York Times |date=May 15, 1988}}</ref> He is the co-editor of ''The International Handbook on Private Enforcement of Competition Law'',<ref>{{cite book |last1=Foer |first1=Albert A. |first2=Jonathan W. |last2=Cuneo |year=2011 |title=The International Handbook on Private Enforcement of Competition Law |publisher=Edward Elgar Publishing |isbn=978-1848448773}}.</ref> published in the U.S. in January 2011.


==Personal life==
==Personal life and death==
⚫
Cuneo was married to [[Mara Liasson]],<ref>{{cite web |website=IMDb |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1833895/bio |title=Maria Liasson: Biography}}</ref> the national political reporter for [[NPR]] and political contributor to [[Fox News]].<ref>{{cite web |website=foxnews.com |publisher=FOX News |url=http://www.foxnews.com/bios/talent/mara-liasson/ |title=Mara Liasson Fox News Bio}}</ref> He boxed recreationally for fifteen years and was a collegiate and club competitive heavyweight oarsman and club rugby player.
⚫
Cuneo is the son of Margaret Watson Cuneo, a member of the British Intelligence in World War II, and [[Ernest Cuneo]], a lawyer, newspaperman, former [[National Football League]] player and aide to [[Fiorello LaGuardia]]. Ernest Cuneo also served as an intelligence liaison between [[Office of Strategic Services]] chief [[William J. Donovan|William Donovan]] and [[Sir William Stephenson]], who headed British Intelligence.<ref>Jennet Conant, ''The Irregulars: Roald Dahl and the British Spy Ring in Wartime Washington,'' Simon and Schuster, 2008</ref>


Jonathan Cuneo died from melanoma on July 26, 2023, at the age of 70.<ref>{{cite web |title=With profound regret, CGL announces the passing of founding partner Jonathan W. Cuneo. |url=https://cuneolaw.com/2023/07/28/with-profound-regret-cgl-announces-the-passing-of-founding-partner-jonathan-w-cuneo/ |website=Cuneo Gilbert & LaDuca |access-date=28 July 2023}}</ref>
⚫
Cuneo is married to Mara Liasson,<ref>http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1833895/bio</ref> the national political reporter for [[National Public Radio]] and political contributor to [[Fox News]].<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/bios/talent/mara-liasson/ Mara Liasson Fox News Bio]</ref> He boxes recreationally and is a former collegiate and club competitive heavyweight oarsman and club rugby player.


==Awards and achievements==
==Awards and achievements==
⚫
Cuneo was listed in the [[Marquis Who's Who]] in American Law.
Benchmark has designated Cuneo a local litigation star, and called him a "titan." It has designated Cuneo Gilbert & LaDuca, LLP as "highly recommended."


⚫
The [[American Antitrust Institute]] awarded Cuneo the Alfred E. Kahn Award for Antitrust Achievement, previously awarded to distinguished individuals [[Joel Klein]], [[Robert Pitofsky]], [[Frederic M. Scherer]], [[Mario Monti]], and Donald I. Baker. The AAI lauded his efforts to defend the antitrust laws even when there existed immense external pressure to weaken them in the 1980s, stating, "Mr. Cuneo was the only person outside of the government to be a spokesperson, clearinghouse, and advocate for strong antitrust enforcement.".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://antitrustinstitute.org/content/aai-award-jon-cuneo-alfred-e-kahn-award-antitrust-achievement|title=AAI Awards Jon Cuneo the Alfred E. Kahn Award for Antitrust Achievement {{!}} American Antitrust Institute|website=antitrustinstitute.org|access-date=July 18, 2016}}</ref>
⚫
Cuneo is listed in the [[Marquis Who's Who]] in American Law.


⚫
Cuneo was selected by the Trial Lawyers for Public Justice as a finalist for its 2006 Trial Lawyer of the Year award.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.publicjustice.net/ |title=Default |website=Public Justice |date=April 22, 2009 |accessdate=November 2, 2010}}</ref>
⚫
The [[American Antitrust Institute]] awarded Cuneo the Alfred E. Kahn Award for Antitrust Achievement, previously awarded to distinguished individuals [[Joel Klein]], [[Robert Pitofsky]], [[Frederic M. Scherer]], [[Mario Monti]], and Donald I. Baker. The AAI lauded his efforts to defend the antitrust laws even when there existed immense external pressure to weaken them in the 1980s, stating, "Mr. Cuneo was the only person outside of the government to be a spokesperson, clearinghouse, and advocate for strong antitrust enforcement.".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://antitrustinstitute.org/content/aai-award-jon-cuneo-alfred-e-kahn-award-antitrust-achievement|title=AAI Awards Jon Cuneo the Alfred E. Kahn Award for Antitrust Achievement {{!}} American Antitrust Institute|website=antitrustinstitute.org|access-date=2016-07-18}}</ref>


Cuneo was elected as a member of the American Law Institute in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Institute |first=The American Law |title=Members |url=https://www.ali.org/members/member/414548/ |access-date=2022-08-01 |website=American Law Institute |language=en}}</ref>
⚫
Cuneo was selected by the Trial Lawyers for Public Justice as a finalist for its 2006 Trial Lawyer of the Year award.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.publicjustice.net/ |title=Default |publisher=Public Justice |date=2009-04-22 |accessdate=2010-11-02}}</ref>


Cuneo has been named a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.litcounsel.org/directory/ |title=LCA Fellows Directory|publisher=Litigation Counsel of America |date=2016 |accessdate=2016-07-19}}</ref>
Cuneo was named a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America.<ref>{{cite web |website=litcounsel.org |url=http://www.litcounsel.org/directory/ |title=LCA Fellows Directory|publisher=Litigation Counsel of America |date=2016 |accessdate=July 19, 2016}}</ref>


Cuneo is a former Member of the Board of Advisors of [[George Washington University Law School]].
Cuneo was a Member of the Board of Advisors of [[George Washington University Law School]].


Cuneo has served on numerous non-profit boards, including the [[Appleseed Foundation]], the [[American Antitrust Institute]], the [[Violence Policy Center]], Fighters Institute for Support and Training and the Juvenile Law Center.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cuneolaw.com/lawyers/jonathan_cuneo.php |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2013-06-03 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130617173306/http://www.cuneolaw.com/lawyers/jonathan_cuneo.php |archivedate=2013-06-17 |df= }}</ref>
Cuneo served on numerous non-profit boards, including the [[Appleseed Foundation]], the [[American Antitrust Institute]], the [[Violence Policy Center]], Fighters Institute for Support and Training and the Juvenile Law Center.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cuneolaw.com/lawyers/jonathan_cuneo.php |title=Jonathan W. Cuneo |website=Cuneo Gilbert & LaDuca LLP |accessdate=June 3, 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130617173306/http://www.cuneolaw.com/lawyers/jonathan_cuneo.php |archivedate=June 17, 2013 }}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
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==References==
==References==
{{reflist|30em}}
{{Reflist|30em}}


==External links==
==External links==
* {{citation | last=Paulu | first=Nancy | year=1992 | title=Helping Your Child Get Ready for School: With Activities for Children from Birth Through Age 5 | publisher=DIANE Publishing | isbn=978-0-7881-0041-3 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XOfv33jCjBsC&pg=PA76&lpg=PA76&dq=jonathan+cuneo&source=bl&ots=xU4a3Jb8Hz&sig=wi_wLDUYfvmN_mqELRmFi3iee9E&hl=en&ei=UXNhTNnOIMHcnAeT2dHLDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CCoQ6AEwAzgU#v=onepage&q=jonathan%20cuneo&f=true|page=76}}; Cuneo's Statement at the Hearing before the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
* {{citation | last=Paulu | first=Nancy | year=1992 | title=Helping Your Child Get Ready for School: With Activities for Children from Birth Through Age 5 | publisher=DIANE Publishing | isbn=978-0-7881-0041-3 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XOfv33jCjBsC&q=jonathan+cuneo&pg=PA76|page=76}}; Cuneo's Statement at the Hearing before the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
* [http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Web+Site+Gives+Hungarian+Jews+Opportunity+to+Identify+Heirlooms...-a0110334893 Cuneo quote from PR Newswire Association LLC regarding Opportunity for Hungarian Jews to Identify Heirlooms Stolen by Nazis during WWII (11/20/99).]
* [http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Web+Site+Gives+Hungarian+Jews+Opportunity+to+Identify+Heirlooms...-a0110334893 Cuneo quote from PR Newswire Association LLC regarding Opportunity for Hungarian Jews to Identify Heirlooms Stolen by Nazis during WWII (11/20/99).]
* [http://dotnet.sys-con.com/node/206036 Cuneo quoted in Net Developer's Journal Article, "As Americans Prepare for 'Tax Day,' Citizens Seek to Stop IRS From Collecting an Illegal Excise Tax" (4/11/06).]
* [http://dotnet.sys-con.com/node/206036 Cuneo quoted in Net Developer's Journal Article, "As Americans Prepare for 'Tax Day,' Citizens Seek to Stop IRS From Collecting an Illegal Excise Tax" (4/11/06).]
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* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110708213337/http://cuneolaw.com/news/documents/2009.09.17.CorporateCrimeReporter.CuneoGilbertOuttoDisinfectFINRAwithSomeSunlight.pdf Jonathan Cuneo quoted in Corporate Crime Reporter regarding Amerivert v. FINRA lawsuit filed August 10, 2009 (9/17/2009).]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110708213337/http://cuneolaw.com/news/documents/2009.09.17.CorporateCrimeReporter.CuneoGilbertOuttoDisinfectFINRAwithSomeSunlight.pdf Jonathan Cuneo quoted in Corporate Crime Reporter regarding Amerivert v. FINRA lawsuit filed August 10, 2009 (9/17/2009).]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100617193419/http://www.cuneolaw.com/lawyers/jonathan_cuneo.php Jonathan W. Cuneo's profile on the Cuneo Gilbert & LaDuca website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100617193419/http://www.cuneolaw.com/lawyers/jonathan_cuneo.php Jonathan W. Cuneo's profile on the Cuneo Gilbert & LaDuca website]

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Latest revision as of 19:47, 20 November 2024

Jonathan Cuneo
Born(1952-09-10)September 10, 1952
New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedJuly 26, 2023(2023-07-26) (aged 70)
Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, U.S.
EducationColumbia University (BA)
Cornell University (JD)
OccupationAttorney
EmployerCuneo Gilbert & LaDuca, LLP
SpouseMara Liasson
FatherErnest Cuneo

Jonathan W. Cuneo (September 10, 1952 – July 26, 2023) was an American lawyer who represented clients in state and federal litigation and in government relations in the fields of antitrust, civil and human rights, consumer protection, corporate governance and securities for over three decades.

Cuneo was a partner of the law firm Cuneo Gilbert & LaDuca, LLP, a government servant, an affiliate of national legal oversight institutions, and a contributor to many legal publications. He received the highest Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating of AV.[1][2]

Early life and education

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Jonathan W. Cuneo was the son of Margaret Watson Cuneo, a member of the British Intelligence in World War II, and Ernest Cuneo, a lawyer, newspaperman, former National Football League player and aide to Fiorello LaGuardia. Ernest Cuneo also served as an intelligence liaison between Office of Strategic Services chief William Donovan and Sir William Stephenson, who headed British Intelligence.[3]

Cuneo earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Columbia University and his Juris Doctor from Cornell Law School, following which he clerked for Judge Edward Tamm of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit until 1978.[1]

Career

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After completing his clerkship, he worked as an attorney in the Office of the General Counsel of the Federal Trade Commission until 1981.

Government service

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Subsequent to his tenure at the FTC, Cuneo served as assistant counsel and then counsel to the Subcommittee on Monopolies and Commercial Law of the United States House Committee on the Judiciary. There, Cuneo counseled Congressman and Committee Chairman Peter W. Rodino regarding many antitrust issues. He also assisted in the Committee's consideration of potential budget-balancing amendments to the United States Constitution in 1982. He conducted a large-scale committee investigation and successfully advocated for oversight of the insurance industry.[4]

From 1986, Cuneo served as General Counsel and Legislative Representative to the Committee to Support Antitrust Laws ("COSAL"). He also co-founded the National Association of Securities and Commercial Law Attorneys ("NASCAT") [5] in 1988, and served as its general counsel from 1988 until 2004.

Litigation

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Joe Camel Case

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Cuneo served as Washington counsel in the first case to challenge the Joe Camel cigarette advertising campaign. The action was filed in California state court in 1991 well before the U.S. Attorney General began tobacco litigation. This litigation led to the release of documents that revealed R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company had studied under-aged smokers with a view toward selling cigarettes and consequently induced youths to start smoking through targeted advertising.[6] Congressman Henry Waxman called Cuneo and his colleagues "American Heroes" for their release of these documents.[7]

Enron

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Cuneo served as Washington counsel on behalf of defrauded investors in Enron from 2002 through 2008. This Enron Securities Litigation recovered over $7 billion, the largest in the history of federal securities litigation.[8]

Hungarian Gold Train

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Cuneo's firm, Cuneo Gilbert & LaDuca, LLP, successfully represented Hungarian Holocaust Survivors seeking restitution and an accounting against the United States government in the Hungarian Gold Train case,[9] which was settled for $25.5 million in 2005 after nearly five years of litigation.[10] The settlement's terms also included an apology from the Bush Administration for the conduct of the U.S. Army.

Metromail

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Cuneo's firm brought a path-breaking class action suit against Metromail for privacy violations surrounding supermarket questionnaires. After a woman in Ohio received a sexually suggestive letter from a maximum security inmate in Texas, it came to light that the company had subcontracted for Texas prisoners to "key" the questionnaire information.[11] Cuneo's firm settled the case for significant injunctive relief, and a cash pool of $15 million was made available to victims.

Prudential

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Cuneo's firm represented individual claimants against Prudential Insurance Company in post-settlement proceedings after a class action charging that Prudential had abused policyholders through deceptive sales practices. Over a period of eighteen months, his firm oversaw approximately 55,000 arbitration-like proceeding in this $4 billion settlement.[12]

Controversy

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Working for the plaintiff's securities bar, Cuneo was the lead lobbyist opposing passage of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act in 1995. Although the coalition Cuneo led was unsuccessful in preventing passage of the bill, some of its more extreme provisions were defeated as the Supreme Court recognized in Amgen v. Connecticut Retirement Plans and Trust Funds (2013).[13] After President Bill Clinton vetoed the bill in December 1995, Congress overruled that veto, the only veto override of the Clinton Presidency.[14]

Authorship

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Cuneo has authored numerous pieces in newspapers and professional journals, including The New York Times, Yale Human Rights & Development Law Journal, Georgetown Law Journal, The George Washington Law Review, The Nation,[1] and the Legal Times.[15] He is the co-editor of The International Handbook on Private Enforcement of Competition Law,[16] published in the U.S. in January 2011.

Personal life and death

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Cuneo was married to Mara Liasson,[17] the national political reporter for NPR and political contributor to Fox News.[18] He boxed recreationally for fifteen years and was a collegiate and club competitive heavyweight oarsman and club rugby player.

Jonathan Cuneo died from melanoma on July 26, 2023, at the age of 70.[19]

Awards and achievements

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Cuneo was listed in the Marquis Who's Who in American Law.

The American Antitrust Institute awarded Cuneo the Alfred E. Kahn Award for Antitrust Achievement, previously awarded to distinguished individuals Joel Klein, Robert Pitofsky, Frederic M. Scherer, Mario Monti, and Donald I. Baker. The AAI lauded his efforts to defend the antitrust laws even when there existed immense external pressure to weaken them in the 1980s, stating, "Mr. Cuneo was the only person outside of the government to be a spokesperson, clearinghouse, and advocate for strong antitrust enforcement.".[20]

Cuneo was selected by the Trial Lawyers for Public Justice as a finalist for its 2006 Trial Lawyer of the Year award.[21]

Cuneo was elected as a member of the American Law Institute in 2021.[22]

Cuneo was named a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America.[23]

Cuneo was a Member of the Board of Advisors of George Washington University Law School.

Cuneo served on numerous non-profit boards, including the Appleseed Foundation, the American Antitrust Institute, the Violence Policy Center, Fighters Institute for Support and Training and the Juvenile Law Center.[24]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Jonathan Cuneo's profile at Martindale-Hubbell". martindale.com.
  2. ^ "Guide to Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings". martindale.com.
  3. ^ Conant, Jennet (2008). The Irregulars: Roald Dahl and the British Spy Ring in Wartime Washington. Simon and Schuster.
  4. ^ "Jonathan Cuneo's AAI Senate testimony on the Exxon/Mobil merger". antitrustinstute.org.
  5. ^ "Home". NASCAT. Retrieved November 2, 2010.
  6. ^ Gene Borio. "Tobacco Timeline-NOTES". Tobacco.org. Archived from the original on October 9, 2010. Retrieved November 2, 2010.
  7. ^ "Cuneo Gilbert & LaDuca LLP - Home". Cuneolaw.com. Archived from the original on November 4, 2010. Retrieved November 2, 2010.
  8. ^ "cuneolaw.com writeup of Enron litigation". cuneolaw.com. Archived from the original on November 4, 2010. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
  9. ^ "Justice for 'Gold Train' Victims - Editorial - NYTimes.com". The New York Times. Hungary. August 9, 2004. Retrieved November 2, 2010.
  10. ^ "U.S. to Apologize for WWII Seizures. | Europe > Eastern Europe from". AllBusiness.com. Retrieved November 2, 2010.
  11. ^ "EPIC - Privacy and Consumer Profiling". Electronic Privacy Information Center. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  12. ^ Lohse, Deborah (June 7, 1999). "Prudential Has Paid $1 Billion To Class-Action Policyholders". cyber.law.harvard.edu. Harvard Cyberlaw News. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  13. ^ "AMGEN INC. ET AL. v. CONNECTICUT RETIREMENT PLANS AND TRUST FUNDS" (PDF). supremecourt.gov. Supreme Court of the United States. February 27, 2013.
  14. ^ Dillon, Patrick; Cannon, Carl M. (2010). Circle of Greed: The Spectacular Rise and Fall of the Lawyer Who Brought Corporate America to Its Knees. New York: Broadway Books. ISBN 978-0767929943..
  15. ^ Waldman, Michael; Cuneo, Jonathan W. (May 15, 1988). "Business Forum: Doom For Discounters?". The New York Times.
  16. ^ Foer, Albert A.; Cuneo, Jonathan W. (2011). The International Handbook on Private Enforcement of Competition Law. Edward Elgar Publishing. ISBN 978-1848448773..
  17. ^ "Maria Liasson: Biography". IMDb.
  18. ^ "Mara Liasson Fox News Bio". foxnews.com. FOX News.
  19. ^ "With profound regret, CGL announces the passing of founding partner Jonathan W. Cuneo". Cuneo Gilbert & LaDuca. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  20. ^ "AAI Awards Jon Cuneo the Alfred E. Kahn Award for Antitrust Achievement | American Antitrust Institute". antitrustinstitute.org. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  21. ^ "Default". Public Justice. April 22, 2009. Retrieved November 2, 2010.
  22. ^ Institute, The American Law. "Members". American Law Institute. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  23. ^ "LCA Fellows Directory". litcounsel.org. Litigation Counsel of America. 2016. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
  24. ^ "Jonathan W. Cuneo". Cuneo Gilbert & LaDuca LLP. Archived from the original on June 17, 2013. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
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