Josh is a Founding Partner, who focuses his practice on workers’ compensation defense and Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) issues. He has previous experience handling the defense of employment law matters, police professional litigation, correctional healthcare, civil rights claims, and also criminal prosecution.
Josh handles workers’ compensation cases from inception through trial, for a wide array of industries, with his clientele ranging from multi-billion companies to small employers throughout the state of Florida. He has tried cases before Judges of Compensation Claims in numerous venues throughout Florida, with success on issues ranging from fraud involving a quadriplegic and his family members, to medical necessity and major contributing cause of major surgeries. Additionally, Josh is also commonly involved in the counseling, development, and implementation of workers’ compensation programs for his clients, in order to reduce the likelihood of claims and mitigate potential exposure.
One of the primary industries Josh handles claims for is the construction industry. He represents general contractors and subcontractors of all sizes, and is enmeshed in the construction industry of Florida. He is an active member of the Construction Association of South Florida (CASF), where he was on the Young Leaders Committee for several years, is involved in the Associated General Contractors (AGC), and was the longtime legal advisor to the Safety Alliance for Excellence (SAFE). Aside from handling workers’ compensation claims for construction companies, Josh also is a go-to attorney for construction companies in OSHA matters. Josh has coordinated and been tasked with handling numerous OSHA inspections involving fatalities, with him most recently handling a well-publicized crane fatality for a large general contractor immediately after its occurrence throughout the entirety of the investigation, resulting in no citations for the company.
Josh is frequently sought after to write or comment on prevailing workers’ compensation issues, both in Florida and on a national level. He has also been selected to speak on numerous occasions at the Florida Bar Workers’ Compensation Forum, and also at the Workers’ Compensation Institute (WCI) annual conference. Insurance carriers, TPAs, and employers also seek out Josh on a regular basis to present on various legal issues and litigation strategies.
Over the course of his career, Josh has received numerous peer-reviewed accolades, including Florida Super Lawyers Rising Star for 2020-2024 (bestowed on less than 2.5 percent of attorneys in Florida), 2022-2024 Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch, 2024 Legal Luminary in Insurance Defense by the St. Thomas University, Benjamin L. Crump College of Law, 2023-2024 Top Lawyer by the Boca Raton Observer, and 2020-2022 Top Lawyer in workers’ compensation by Fort Lauderdale Illustrated (one of only two defense attorneys on the list). Josh is also rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, based upon peer reviews, which indicates that he has achieved the highest professional and ethical standards and is the highest rating a lawyer can receive.
Prior to entering private practice, Josh worked as an Assistant State Attorney at the State Attorney’s Office, 17th Judicial Circuit, where he handled over 50 jury and non-jury trials, with his last trial being covered by the news media.
During law school at Nova Southeastern University, Josh was an active competitor and board member of the Moot Court Honor Society, placed in the top 8 of the Feinrider Moot Court Competition, was on the Dean’s list, and was a teaching/research assistant in both Legal Research and Writing and in Criminal Procedure. Further, Josh was one of 40 law students selected nationwide as a summer fellow for the Florida Bar Foundation. Prior to entering law school, Josh obtained his undergraduate degree magna cum laude from the State University of New York at Buffalo, where he was selected for induction into the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa Society, received English Departmental Honors, wrote a well-received Honors Thesis, and was listed in Who’s Who Among American College Students. Additionally, Josh was chosen as a Renaissance Scholar, an award bestowed on less than 4 percent of graduates that year (only 82 students out of a class size of more than 2,500), for those exhibiting scholarly excellence in at least two widely disparate areas of study.
Practices
Admissions
- Florida
Education
- Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad Law Center, J.D., 2011
- State University of New York at Buffalo, B.A., magna cum laude, 2008
Honors & Recognition
- Super Lawyers Magazine, Florida “Rising Stars,” Workers’ Compensation, 2020-2024
- The Boca Raton Observer, “Top Lawyers,” 2023-2024
- Martindale-Hubbell, AV® Preeminent ™
- Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch, Workers’ Compensation – Employers, 2022-2024
- Fort Lauderdale Illustrated, “Top Lawyer,” Workers’ Compensation Law, 2020 – 2022
- St. Thomas University, Benjamin L. Crump College of Law, Legal Luminary, Insurance Defense, 2024
- Certificate of Excellence, PepsiCo., May 2023
- Phi Beta Kappa Society, Omicron Chapter, University at Buffalo
- Florida Bar Foundation, Summer Fellow
- Book Award, Criminal Pre-Trial Practice, Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad Law Center
- Dean’s List, Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad Law Center
- English Department Honors, University at Buffalo
- Honors Thesis, “Idealism in Nature: The Films of Terrence Malick,” University at Buffalo
- Renaissance Scholar, University at Buffalo
- Dean’s List, University at Buffalo
- Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges
Professional & Civic
- Safety Alliance For Excellence (SAFE), Legal Advisor
- Construction Association of South Florida (CASF), Young Leaders Committee
- The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), Member
- Richard A. Sicking American Inn of Court, Barrister
- Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Event Coordinator, 2015
Publications
Publications
- Author, Workers’ Comp Claims for COVID-19 Likely to Fail, South Florida Business and Wealth, March 2020
- Author, Good News for Florida Companies: Workers’ Compensation Rate Decreasing, Daily Business Review, December 2017
Media
- Featured, “The Florida Bar Workers’ Compensation Section”, News & 440 Report, February 2023
- Quoted, “Workers’ Compensation Fraud Comes in Many Forms“, Society for Human Resource Management, August 2022
- Quoted, “Workers’ Compensation Liability for COVID-19 Vaccine Side Effects May Be Limited“, Society of Human Resources, December 2021
- Quoted, “Yes, employees required to get vaccinated for COVID-19 can file a workers’ compensation claim for vaccine adverse effects,” Verify This, June 2021
- Quoted, “Does Workers’ Comp Cover an Employee’s Reaction to a COVID-19 Vaccine?”, HR Magazine, March 2021
- Featured, “Message 15: Joshua T. Higgins,” America Will Be Back, April 2020
- Quoted, “Better Not Call Saul: South Florida Litigators Discuss the Accuracy – or Lack Thereof – of AMC’s Hit Show”, Daily Business Review, September 2018
- Featured, “Joshua T. Higgins appointed Legal Advisor of SAFE”, News Wire, May 2015
- Featured, “Joshua T. Higgins appointed Legal Advisor of SAFE”, Attorney at Law Magazine, May 2015
- Featured, “Joshua T. Higgins appointed Legal Advisor of SAFE”, SunSentinel, May 2015
- Featured. “Joshua T. Higgins Appointed Legal Advisor of SAFE”, CityBizList South Florida, May 2015
- Featured, “Alumni Connections”, NSU Law, February 2014
- Featured, “Class Actions – News & Notes About Alumni”, NSU Law, January 2014
- Featured, “Alumni Achievements”, Nova Lawyer, 2014
- Quoted, “Adverse Possession Lesson”, WSVN 7 News, August 2013
Presentations
- Speaker, “DWC Forms and Key Documents: The Descriptions, Details, and Directions,” September 2024
- Speaker, “Accident Investigations,” September 2024
- Speaker, “Denials for Pre-Existing Conditions,” June 2024
- Speaker, “Florida Workers’ Compensation 101,” June 2024
- Speaker, “Professionalism in a Remote Environment,” Florida Bar Workers’ Compensation Forum, April 2024
- Speaker, “Valuing Claimants: Categories, Components, and Calculations” November 2023
- Speaker, “Florida Workers’ Comp 101,” July 2023
- Speaker, “2023 Law & Ethics Update,” September 2023
- Speaker, “Professionalism in a Remote Environment,” Florida Bar Workers’ Compensation Forum, April 2023
- Speaker “2022 WC Law and Ethics Update,” September 2022
- Speaker, “Catastrophic Injuries in the Construction Industry,” 76th Annual Workers’ Compensation Educational Conference, August 2022
- Speaker, “FL Worker’s Compensation 101,” July 2022
- Speaker, “The Challenges of the One Time Change Statute,” July 2022
- Speaker, “Arising Out Of ” and “Course and Scope” – What, How, & Why are JCC’s Analyzing Them Now,” July 2022
- Speaker, “2021 5 HR Law and Ethics Update,” September 2021
- Speaker, “Return to Work Policies Make Cents,” July 2021
- Speaker, “Covid-19 In 2021” Webinar, May 2021
- Speaker, “Arising Out Of” and “Course and Scope”: What Are They, Why Do They Matter, and How Are Judges of Compensation Claims Analyzing Them Now”, September 2020
- Speaker, “Top Ten Workers’ Compensation Cases of 2020” Webinar, August 2020
- Speaker, “Personal Brand Development – A Quick Guide for Young Professionals”, December 2018
Panelist, “Legal News & Review”, MoneyTalk Radio, July 2018 - Speaker, “Effective Strategies for Managing Workers’ Compensation Risk”, June 2018
- Speaker, “Building Your Own Brand: Strategies for More Effective Professional Development”, Construction Association of South Florida (CASF), December 2017
- Speaker, “Workplace Violence & Active Shooters: Maintaining a Safe Work Environment & Limiting Liability”, July 2017
- Speaker, “Workplace Violence & Active Shooters: Maintaining a Safe Work Environment & Limiting Liability”, May 2017
- Speaker, “Managing Workers’ Compensation Risks in the Construction Industry”, January 2017
- Speaker, “Florida’s Workers’ Compensation System and the Changes That Will Take Place Due to Recent Court Rulings”, May 2016
- Speaker, “Safety First: The Ramifications of Safety Violations on the Jobsite”, May 2016
- Speaker, “Workers’ Compensation Fraud”, May 2016
- Speaker, “Safety First: The Ramifications of Safety Violations on the Jobsite”, March 2016
- Speaker, “Managing Workers’ Compensation Risks in the Construction Industry”, January 2016
- Speaker, “Criminal Prosecution for Safety Violations”, December 2015
- Speaker, “Managing Workers’ Compensation Risk in the Construction Industry”, November 2015
- Speaker, “Practicing for Professionalism”, 2014
- Speaker, Nova Southeastern, Shepard Broad Law Center 1L Orientation, 2014