Introduction

What drives a lawyer to dedicate 35 years to a single, complex area of law? For Jeffrey Gross, the answer lies in a family story from 1953. In this episode of The Jeffrey Gross Show, Jeff shares the moving story of his grandfather’s influence and how it shaped his mission to protect the “little guy” against corporate giants.

Inside This Episode:

• The Bread Factory Incident: Jeff recounts the harrowing story of a 1953 workplace accident and the cold-hearted management response that inspired his legal career.
• The “No-Fault” Maze: Learn why Pennsylvania workers’ compensation is a no-fault system and how Jeff won his very first case for a truck driver who fell asleep at the wheel.
• Specialization Matters: Jeff discusses why he chose to become a certified specialist rather than a “Jack of all trades” and the importance of focusing on one area to provide the best service.
• The Business of Law: A look behind the curtain at starting a firm in 2016, the challenges of the 2020 pandemic, and why Jeff still gives his personal cell phone number to every client.
• Tax-Free Benefits: Did you know workers’ comp settlements in PA are tax-free? Jeff explains the financial nuances that help injured workers get back on their feet.

Need a specialized advocate for your work injury? Call Jeff Gross directly on his cell: 215-512-1500

Transcript

Date: November 4, 2025

Topic: How I Got Started in Workers’ Compensation & The Maze of PA Law

Host: Jeffrey Gross, Esq. (Gross & Kenny LLP)

Co-Host: Joe Dougherty

Joe Dougherty: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Jeff Gross Show here on WWDB Talk 860. We’ve got a fantastic broadcast. This is part two of a series on StreamYard Radio that will also be available on Apple, Roku, and Fire TV. Ecstatic to bring into the broadcast our host, Jeff Gross. How are you, Jeff?

Jeffrey Gross: Great, Joe. How are you tonight?

Joe Dougherty: I could not be better. Really loving this format. Last month we had a tutorial on workers’ comp. Today, we’re going to talk about the clients and how you educate them on avoiding mistakes—specifically how communication between them and their attorney is such a big deal. Jeff, remind our listeners a little bit about yourself and the firm, and then I want to hear that story about how you got into workers’ compensation.

Jeffrey Gross: Sure thing. Well, first of all, I handle workers’ compensation matters on behalf of injured workers who cannot work as a result of a work-related injury. I’ve been doing this for the past 35 years. I absolutely love what I do. It’s a different situation than most lawyers that I know; they don’t love what they do. In fact, most lawyers say, “I hate what I do, I can’t wait to retire.” That’s not me. I love what I do, I love my clients, and I love my office staff. We’re like a family. I take care of people who have been hurt at work from both a wage loss perspective and a medical perspective. Under the workers’ compensation law, you’re entitled to two things. First, wage loss benefits, usually at two-thirds of your gross average weekly wage—though that can vary to 90% or one-half of the statewide maximum. Second, you’re entitled to medical benefits. These get paid at 113% of what Medicare would pay. There is no copay and no deductible in workers’ compensation.

Joe Dougherty: That’s workers’ comp in a nutshell, but you always say it’s a maze.

Jeffrey Gross: It is a maze. It is a convoluted, three-volume statutory construct. That’s just the written law; there is also case law that changes and influences it. I am very familiar with the nuances shaped over 100 years since the law was enacted in 1916. I educate my clients so there is no confusion. Communication in this business is key. Without it, people get confused and unsatisfied. If you are my client, you are my family. I give everyone my personal cell number. I answer it. I call people back within minutes or hours. I don’t let a day go by without calling a client back. Communication is the key to most things in life.

Joe Dougherty: So, tell us—how did you actually get started in this specific field?

Jeffrey Gross: It was my grandfather’s influence. He was an assembly line worker for a bread manufacturing company in Philadelphia back in 1953. He was the foreman. One night, a woman on the line wasn’t wearing a hairnet. Her hair got caught in the machinery, and it basically ripped her scalp right off. He stopped the presses, grabbed her and her scalp, and ran to his car. He drove her to the hospital and waited with her while she underwent surgery. He was all bloody—he worked the midnight to 8:00 AM shift.

Joe Dougherty: I worked that shift as an ironworker; it’s a different ball of wax.

Jeffrey Gross: It is. So management comes in at 9:00 AM and he explains what happened. They basically turned their backs on her. They said, “We aren’t going to help her; in fact, she’s fired for not wearing the hairnet.” My grandfather was appalled. After I graduated law school, he said, “Jeffy, you could be a divorce lawyer, a criminal lawyer, or a tax lawyer—but the little guy needs your help.” That story stuck in the back of my head.

Later, I started at a firm—Ominsky, Welsh, Rosenthal, and Steinberg. Joe Messer was my mentor there. On a Friday afternoon, he asked me what I knew about workers’ comp. I said “Nothing.” He handed me three thick books and said, “Read these over the weekend; you have a new client on Monday.” I spent the whole weekend taking notes. On Monday, I met a guy who had been driving a beer truck from Colorado to New York. He was trying to make the trip in one swoop to get a time bonus, fell asleep at the wheel on Route 80, and went over an embankment. He almost died. The insurance company denied the claim because he ruined the truck and the load.

Joe Dougherty: But Pennsylvania is a “no-fault” state for workers’ comp, right?

Jeffrey Gross: Exactly. It doesn’t matter whose fault it is as long as you didn’t intentionally cause the injury. I litigated that case from beginning to end. When we got to court, the judge yelled at the opposing counsel, “How can you not pick up this claim?” They still refused. I put on all the evidence religiously. I won everything: wages, interest, medical bills, and even a penalty for an “unreasonable contest.” It was one of the happiest days of my life. I decided right then I didn’t want to do personal injury or anything else. I wanted to help the little guy. My grandfather was my hero, and he always said if you can’t help people, you’re of no good to this world.

Joe Dougherty: That is such an inspirational story. At what point did you start your own firm?

Jeffrey Gross: There are many general practice lawyers who do a bit of everything. In my opinion, you’re better off focusing on one area to become an expert. I’m a certified specialist. I learned “The Bible”—the thick yellow book of workers’ comp case law—backwards and forwards. I’m fascinated by it, just like I’m fascinated by aviation; I even became a pilot in 2004. I handle the firm as a managing partner and a lawyer. I love both, but doing both is doubly hard.

Joe Dougherty: Let’s take a quick break, and when we come back, we’ll hear about hanging your own shingle.

[Commercial Break]

Joe Dougherty: Welcome back to the Jeff Gross Show. Jeff was recently inducted into the “Legends of Justice Hall of Fame.” He was one of only three workers’ comp attorneys elected for 2025 by his peers. Jeff, you were telling us about starting your own firm.

Jeffrey Gross: I was flabbergasted by that award. I’m very humble—you won’t see me on billboards. I get my referrals from other lawyers who trust my track record. Regarding the firm, I realized workers’ comp was often just a “side service” for personal injury firms. I wanted to differentiate my product by offering a personal, hands-on experience. I’ve had the same cell number since 1991—215-512-1500. It was a fluke that I got such a cool number back then, but I kept it. If you call that number, you get me. I text my clients my business card so they always have it. In workers’ comp, you can sign your rights away if you aren’t careful, so I tell my clients: don’t sign anything and don’t talk to anyone until you run it by me.

Joe Dougherty: It’s an art to be a great attorney and a relevant firm owner.

Jeffrey Gross: When I first started, I just wanted to help people. Starting a firm is a pain in the neck and a huge financial risk. But I turned a tiny side practice into a big one. I developed a formula to maximize settlement values while ensuring weekly benefits continue so clients can get the treatment they need. By the way, workers’ comp benefits and settlements are 100% tax-free in Pennsylvania. That’s a huge bonus for the clients.

Eventually, I needed help and hired Patrick Kenny. We’ve been together a long time. We learn from each other. I don’t look at other claimants’ attorneys as competition; I look at us as an army against the insurance companies. We are a cohesive, friendly group. In 2016, Patrick and I went out on our own. It was a scary decision, but professionally, it was the best decision I ever made. We continuously reinvest in the firm. I have to temper the business model—which says “grow, grow, grow”—with my philosophy of maintaining personal relationships. I will sacrifice profit to ensure I can still help people personally.

Joe Dougherty: How has the practice changed over the 35 years?

Jeffrey Gross: When I started, I was 24/7. If the phone rang at 3:00 AM, I’d answer. It was exhausting. I’ve learned to manage things better. It’s a sad irony that by the time you learn all the nuances, your career is almost over! But the biggest change was Zoom and Microsoft Teams. When the pandemic hit in March 2020, I panicked. I thought, “No one is working, so no one is getting injured.” I was worried about how to meet clients or depose doctors. But by June 2020, everything was streamlined. Before the pandemic, I insisted on meeting every client in person and traveling to every deposition at 6:00 PM. It was labor-intensive. Now, it’s all virtual, which makes me much more productive. I can devote even more time to each client. Joe DeRita, the director of adjudication at the time, did an unbelievable job making virtual hearings work.

Joe Dougherty: We have about 20 seconds. Contact information?

Jeffrey Gross: My cell phone is 215-512-1500. My email is jgross@gk-wucl.com—which is a mouthful, I need to change that! And my website is philaworkerscomp.com.

Joe Dougherty: Thanks for listening, everybody!