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, State Bar of Arizona, Arizona Trial Lawyers (Arizona Association for Justice), and private organizers, 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 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

• 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. Award amount for 3 level neck fusion.

December 21, 2024

A: I'm going to answer the question based on you having injured your neck in a work accident. Workers compensation benefits are not like personal injury payments and the first part of the process is to understand what the doctors have said you can and cannot do in a job, and then figure out if there are jobs available within those restrictions. That determines how much money you will continue getting every month until there is a change in your work and income. A three level cervical fusion is going to prevent you from doing a lot of different jobs and the insurance company may just agree that you are not able to work, unless you have actually returned to some job. There are different ways to be paid for the type of injury you have, again if this is something from a work accident, and you may get benefits every month or it is possible for you to get a lump sum payment. That would basically cash out your entire claim and it may or may not be a good idea, depending on your age and what the doctors think may happen in the future from the three level Fusion. That does put extra weight on the spine levels below the fusion and there is probably some risk that you will develop more problems at lower levels on your spine. You have a complex case and you should consult with a qualified lawyer who would be able to look at your medical records and give you a more specific answer. Thank you for the opportunity to try and answer your question ... Read More

Q. My job, im working two different departments and the other department gets paid more than i, is this legal?

November 24, 2024

A: This is not a workers' compensation case. It seems you are being paid at the lower rate for one of the two departments where you are assigned, even for work you do in the department in which other employees are being paid a higher rate. That is an employment law question and I would suggest that you go back and post your question in the correct legal field. You can also contact the Industrial Commission of Arizona Labor Department https://www.azica.gov/labor-department, or United States Department of Labor Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Q. Do we need a workman comp attorney?

March 22, 2024

A: First, I am sorry to hear about your father and hopefully he will recover. Second, you have a choice of filing a workers' compensation (WC) claim in either New Mexico or Arizona, and I do not know the difference between benefits available for the two states because my practice is only in Arizona. It seems Arizona would be better logistically because it's easier for whoever is going to be managing the claim for your father to be in the same state where he lives and where he will presumably continue getting medical care. The charges for treatment in New Mexico and taxes will [should] be covered regardless of where the WC claim is filed. The insurance company, and it's not clear if that was for a New Mexico or Arizona claim, is correct that a guardian ad litem needs to be appointed as quickly as possible. That can be done through the Industrial Commission of Arizona (ICA), either online or someone can go in person to the Commission office at 800 W. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ 85007. There is a claims desk in the back of the building on the first floor, and they can help with the application. I will try to put the link to the application here, but I'm not sure if the app will allow it and if it doesn't go through, the main website is AZICA.GoV.

https://azica.my.salesforce-sites.com/forms/WebformGuardianIncapacitated_VF

You also need to make sure a claim actually has been filed, and you can find that out by contacting the ICA at 602-542-4661, although without legal authority they may be reluctant to provide that information. The main question, again, is if and where a claim has already been filed and, if not, if it's better in New Mexico or Arizona. WC attorneys in Arizona generally charge a percentage of benefits eventually paid to or for the injured worker, and you should check with different attorneys-law firms to find out what that percentage will be and their experience with this type of catastrophic claim. ... Read More

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