
Joel Friedman
I can help with your work injury claim _ no cost consultation, flexible feesJoel F Friedman has been representing injured workers in claims for Arizona workers' compensation benefits for about 40 years, and he was certified as a specialist in workers' compensation law from October 1993 - February 2021. He continues to specialize in work injuries; he accepts complex cases other lawyers often won't take (like work stress, carpal tunnel syndrome, and gradual - repetitive work injuries); and he has been a frequent speaker at national Social Security, State Bar of Arizona, Arizona Trial Lawyers (Arizona Association for Justice), and private conferences-seminars on a variety of subjects, including psychological - neuropsychological evaluations, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), cardiac and cardiovascular disorders, and Medicare benefits. Joel hikes the Arizona deserts, travels where the wind takes him (currently working with small organizations and starting an Arizona non-profit corporation to support women and girls in the Democratic Republic of Congo), and in a past life was a licensed soccer referee
- Workers' Compensation
- Medicare Set Aside (MSA) trusts
- Google Meet
- Zoom
- RingCentral
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Free Consultation
I am available to review medical and case documents, at no charge, to decide what services I may be able to offer, and what fees would be charged. I will then schedule a telephone or in-person meeting to review your case -
Contingent Fees
I am able to take most Arizona work injury claims on contingencies, so there is no charge for my time until and unless there is a recovery. Legal and case expenses must be reimbursed regardless of the result, pursuant to the Arizona Rules of Professional Conduct. Medicare Set Aside (MSA) case contracts depend on the specifics -
Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
Fees are dependent on the specific nature of your case, and where you are in the process. I may be able to offer discounted fees to police and fire department employees, union workers, and veterans applying for Arizona work injury.
- Arizona
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- 9th Circuit
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- U.S. Supreme Court
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- US District Court - Arizona
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- Spanish: Written
- ATTORNEY
- JOEL F FRIEDMAN, PLLC
- - Current
- New law office after 28 years with firm of Jerome, Gibson, Stewart
- Director, Arizona Workers' Compensation Division
- Cruz & Associates, PC
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- I managed the work injury section of the Phoenix Cruz office. I supervised an associate attorney and 3 paralegals, including for administrative claims and court cases at the Industrial Commission of Arizona
- Attorney-shareholder
- Jerome, Gibson, Stewart, Friedman, Stevenson, Engle, & Runbeck, PC
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- Villanova University School of Law
- J.D.
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- Franklin & Marshall College
- B.A. | Business Management
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- Activities: Chi Phi Fraternity 1974 - 1977 Men's Soccer 1973 - 1974
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- State University of New York - College at New Paltz
- Literature
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- Outstanding New Attorney Volunteer
- Arizona State University Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law
- For contributions to offering pro bono legal services to the Valley's homeless community
- Arizona State Bar
- Member
- Current
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- Arizona Association for Justice (Arizona Trial Lawyers)
- Member
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- National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives (NOSSCR)
- Member
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- Activities: Council of Past Presidents 2002 - present President 2001 - 2002 Advocacy Committee Chair
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- Certified specialist in workers' compensation law
- State Bar of Arizona Board of Legal Specialization
- Q. Is it legal for my employer to deduct full paycheck for Workman's Comp arrears in Arizona?
- A: Your question is more about employment law and not directly related to your work injury or the claim for workers' compensation (WC) benefits. It's not clear, but it seems your question is about the cost or share of health insurance or other premiums that would have been deducted form your paychecks if you had not been off work for your injury. This is outside my area of practice (WC cases), but it's my understanding your are responsible for making payments to keep your insurance coverage. The question is how you make up for 7 months of unpaid premiums (again, if that is your question) and you indicated your employer is willing to arrange a payment plan that would not involve taking ... Read More
- Q. Work accident led to toe damage due to insurance delay. Do I have a case?
- A: The delay in treatment may, possibly, be insurance bad faith and a claim would be outside the work injury case. The WC claim will compensate you for damage to your toe or foot as it is after all treatment is finished, and the amount also depends on your ability or inability to go back to the job you had when you were injured. There may also be different payments if you had a previous injury to another part of your body
You can try to get an attorney to sue the insurance company for bad faith, but generally delayed treatment claims require major damage and, while I understand this is major for you, it may not be enough for a lawyer to take the insurance bad faith case. They can be very expensive ... Read More
- Q. Is it legal for my employer to potentially lay me off or offer a lower-paying job after a workplace injury?
- A: Good afternoon. Your question is about more than a workers' compensation (WC) claim, and potentially involves additional or separate rights you may have under the collective bargaining agreement (contract) between your employer and the union, and possibly rights you may have under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). There is no guarantee of a particular job through WC or the ADA, and if you are not able to do what are considered the "essential functions" of work within the company, they may be legally allowed to assign you to a lower-paying job or terminate your employment if there is no such position available or if you decline to take a different job. Your future opportunities ... Read More