Joel Friedman

Joel 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

• Medicare Set Aside (MSA) trusts

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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

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

Outstanding New Attorney Volunteer

Arizona State University Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law

2012

For contributions to offering pro bono legal services to the Valley's homeless community

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. Is it legal for my employer to deduct full paycheck for Workman's Comp arrears in Arizona?

July 10, 2025

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 your entire paycheck now that you are back to work You should look specifically for an employment law attorney if you still are not satisfied with your employer's offer. ... Read More

Q. Work accident led to toe damage due to insurance delay. Do I have a case?

March 25, 2025

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 to present to a court (not the Industrial Commission), and your "damages," the amount of money the insurance company would have to pay, generally has to be very high. You can also file a bad faith or what is called an unfair claim processing complaint at the Industrial Commission, and if there is an award it will likely be $500, maybe a bit more. Again, I understand your foot injury is a serious problem for you and the question is going to be if there is "value" in court.

I would recommend contacting a qualified workers' compensation lawyer and they should be able to see if a bad faith attorney would take your case once they can see the work injury claim file. Especially whatever your foot doctor wrote in treatment records ... Read More

Q. Is it legal for my employer to potentially lay me off or offer a lower-paying job after a workplace injury?

March 25, 2025

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 (qualifying for journeyman status) is not a consideration; all parts of your claim are fixed as of the date of your injury. The issue also is not actually your WC "outcome" (the claim or case), but the extent of your recovery from your injury, and what you can and cannot do for work. The claim should have nothing to do with your continued employment, only your injury. Each situation is different so it's difficult, at a minimum, to offer specific advice and the best you can expect here is some general information and directions. The factors that will determine your right to permanent disability benefits include your age, level of education, past work history (with this company and before), what your doctors (and any insurance doctors) say about what you can and cannot do for work activities, and where you live and where you worked (for example, if you traveled to different places for your job). You should consult with a qualified WC attorney to review your particular case and facts, and to get more specific advice. ... Read More

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