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Joel Friedman

Joel Friedman

I can help with your work injury claim _ no cost consultation, flexible fees
  • Workers' Compensation
  • Arizona
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Biography

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

Practice Area
Workers' Compensation
Additional Practice Area
  • Medicare Set Aside (MSA) trusts
Fees
  • 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.
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
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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Languages
  • Spanish: Written
Professional Experience
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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Education
Villanova University School of Law
J.D.
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Villanova University School of Law Logo
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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Awards
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
Professional Associations
Arizona State Bar
Member
Current
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Arizona Association for Justice (Arizona Trial Lawyers)
Member
- Current
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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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Certifications
Certified specialist in workers' compensation law
State Bar of Arizona Board of Legal Specialization
Websites & Blogs
Website
Legal Answers
93 Questions Answered
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 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?
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
Q. My TTD AMW has been 5138 at 66.6% set by ICA of AZ. how much should my biweekly check be.
A: $1,576.54, within some pennies of that. The daily rate is your average monthly wage multiplied by .021918, which produces a daily benefit amount of approximately $112.61, and your biweekly check is for 14 days. There is also a sort of bonus payment if you identified dependents on your report of injury. You should contact a qualified workers compensation lawyer if you are getting less or if you think that the $5,138 is not correct. That amount depends on the calendar year in which you were injured and all of your earnings from W2 employment, which is important if you had more than one job at the time of your injury
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Social Media
Contact & Map
Joel F Friedman, Esq
P.O. Box 10037
Phoenix, AZ 85064
US
Cell: (602) 540-6366
Fax: (602) 777-3599
Monday: 8:30 AM - 6 PM
Tuesday: 8:30 AM - 6 PM
Wednesday: 8:30 AM - 6 PM
Thursday: 8:30 AM - 6 PM (Today)
Friday: 8:30 AM - 6 PM
Saturday: 10 AM - 4 PM
Sunday: Closed
Notice: I am available by telephone and email weekdays and most Saturdays. I answer calls and reply when I am not already on a project or in court. I prefer email or text messages to voice mail