Joel Friedman

Joel F Friedman has been representing injured workers in claims for Arizona workers' compensation benefits for about 35 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 and State Bar of Arizona conferences 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 wherever the wind takes him, and in a past life was a licensed soccer referee

Workers' Compensation

• Medicare Set Aside (MSA) trusts

• Google Hangouts

• 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

9th Circuit

U.S. Supreme Court

US District Court - Arizona

ATTORNEY

JOEL F FRIEDMAN, PLLC

2011 - Current

New law office after 28 years with firm of Jerome, Gibson, Stewart

Director, Arizona Workers' Compensation Division

Cruz & Associates, PC

2016 - 2019

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

1982 - 2011

Villanova University School of Law

J.D.

1979 - 1982

Franklin & Marshall College

B.A. | Business Management

1973 - 1977

Activities: Chi Phi Fraternity 1974 - 1977 Men's Soccer 1973 - 1974

State University of New York - College at New Paltz

Literature

1977 - 1979

Arizona State Bar

Member

Current

Arizona Association for Justice (Arizona Trial Lawyers)

Member

2006 - Current

National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives (NOSSCR)

Member

1985 - 2014

Activities: Council of Past Presidents 2002 - present President 2001 - 2002 Advocacy Committee Chair

Certified specialist in workers' compensation law

State Bar of Arizona Board of Legal Specialization

1993

Q. I am being exposed to cleaning chemicals at work, by a business next door to where I work. Can I take them to court?

February 28, 2022

A: Thank you for your inquiry. I see a couple of issues you want to follow up. I would first contact the Arizona Department of Occupational Safety and Health (https://www.azica.gov/forms/adosh2213) and the US Department of Occupational Safety and Health (I don't have a link to the federal form), and hopefully they will send an inspector to investigate what is dumped that you are then exposed to at your job. I'm not familiar with that area of the law but I would think the City of Sedona does not have the final word on potentially toxic materials just because it issued a permit. That also does not mean you have not been injured by your exposure. You can notify your employer that you want a medical evaluation, or since you have already notified your employer and they apparently have done nothing just go on your own and have the health care facility (ER, urgent care) or provider (your personal doctor or specialist) file a Workers' and Physicians Report of Injury (ICA Form 102). I will tell you that letting this go for eight years may be a problem, even with an ongoing exposure, because you generally have one year from the time you know or should have know about an "injury" to file a workers' compensation benefits claim. The eight year exposure without anything serious enough for you to go on your own to a doctor also suggests this is not a major problem, but hopefully what I gave you here is a start. Thank you again

Q. Workers comp claim terminated, want to quit my job... however...

January 17, 2022

A: This is a question you really should be asking the lawyer you apparently already have on your WC case. It's a common issue and any serious WC attorney will be able to advise you, especially knowing more about your current injury-related medical condition and why you disagree with your benefits being terminated. That being said, there may or may not be consequences if your claim is "unclosed" and benefits are reinstated. The general rule is that if the company where you were working at the time of your injury has been giving you light duty, even hypothetical earnings from that light duty employment will continue to count against any disability benefits you may qualify for later (if you leave the job). There are many factors that go into the decision you need or want to make, it's best again to discuss with your current WC lawyer who knows your case better

Q. Hi there so broke my hand at work 4 to 5 weeks ago . in that time I have seen doctor every week. 1 week into break I wa

December 17, 2021

A: Good morning. It's not clear from your message how you believe your hand was broken and should be in a cast (like an x-ray or something else), and why you think you cannot do your regular work, since you apparently have been to a doctor who would make those decisions. It will make a difference which hand is injured - dominant that you use to write and do most daily activities - and what job you were doing at the time of the injury. How you were injured, what happened in the accident, makes a difference also. You are not entitled to wage loss payments until you have been off work at least 7 calendar days, not necessarily in a row. The time off work has to be at the direction of your doctor even if you disagree with their work status. Depending on who you work for, you may have the right to go to any doctor you want, although you will have to get a referral from where you have been going or you will need the agreement of the workers' compensation insurance company. That can get complicated. I suggest you get a copy of your claim file (especially all of your medical records), and contact a workers' comp attorney. Thank you for your question, hope this answer helps

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