Courtney Palko is a Partner at Blecher Collins Pepperman & Joye, P.C. Since joining the firm in 2004, she has worked on complex business litigation matters focusing on antitrust, intellectual property, and unfair competition law. She has also been involved in handling class action matters. Ms. Palko has been selected to the 2011-2012 listings of Southern California “Super Lawyers” Rising Stars.
Significant Matters:
- Represented student-athlete class in White v. NCAA, a certified, antitrust class action alleging that the NCAA violated the federal antitrust laws by restricting amounts of athletic-based financial aid. The NCAA settled and paid an additional $218 million for use by current student-athletes to cover the costs of attending college, paid $10 million to cover educational and professional development expenses for former student-athletes, and enacted new legislation to permit Division I institutions to provide year-round comprehensive health insurance to student-athletes.
- Represented national consumer class in Brantley v. NBC Universal, alleging that the cable distributors and TV programmers violated the federal antitrust laws with tiering restrictions and a la carte prohibitions which prevent the cable companies from competing to offer different packages of channels to cable customers.
- Represented a consulting firm against a large multi-national conglomerate in a multimillion dollar business interference lawsuit involving a military procurement contract. After trial, the parties entered into a confidential settlement agreement.
- Represented a class of music composers and owners of sound recordings against television studios and distributors for failure to pay licensing fees.
- Represented MGA in federal antitrust claim against Mattel alleging monopolization of fashion doll market.
- Representing consulting company for shippers alleging antitrust claims against dominant shipping companies regarding their exclusion of third party consultants.
- Lead day-to-day lawyer in dispute over musical sound recording rights.
- Represented musician over use of likeness in video game and use of song in commercial.
- Represented screenwriter in copyright infringement dispute.
- Defended a major San Francisco tour attraction provider against a competitor's predatory pricing, exclusive dealing, and unfair competition claims.
- Represented a former sponsor of college football bowl games against the National Collegiate Athletic Association alleging price fixing and business interference claims.
Education:
B.S., magna cum laude, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (1998)
M.S., University of California, Davis (2000)
J.D., University of California, Davis (2004)
Articles Editor, U.C. Davis Law Review
Bar Admissions:
2004 State Bar of California
2004 U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
2008 State Bar of Illinois
2009 U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
2009 U.S. Courts of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Professional Affiliations:
State Bar of California
American Bar Association
Association of Business Trial Lawyers
Los Angeles County Bar Association
State Bar of Illinois
