Franklin D. Azar is a Colorado personal injury attorney best known as the founder and president of Franklin D. Azar & Associates, P.C., widely recognized as Colorado’s largest plaintiff-centered personal injury firm and marketed under the registered trademark “The Strong Arm.” Born Franklin David Azar on April 18, 1957, in Pueblo, Colorado, and raised in Trinidad, he has built a high-volume practice focused on representing injured individuals in motor vehicle accidents, product liability, workers’ compensation, class actions, and mass torts. His firm operates multiple offices across the state and reports substantial recoveries for clients over nearly four decades. People search for Franklin Azar primarily because of his firm’s heavy advertising presence, high-profile class-action work against major corporations, and status as a prominent Colorado plaintiff’s lawyer.
Franklin Azar: Quick Profile
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Franklin David Azar (commonly Frank Azar) |
| Profession | Attorney / Lawyer |
| Legal Role | Founding Attorney, President, and Owner |
| Law Firm | Franklin D. Azar & Associates, P.C. (also Frank Azar Car & Truck Accident Lawyers) |
| Practice Areas | Personal injury, workers’ compensation, product liability, class actions, mass torts, insurance bad faith |
| Location | Primary office: Aurora, Colorado; multiple offices statewide |
| Education | B.A., University of Colorado Boulder (1979, cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa); J.D., University of Denver (1982) |
| Bar Admission | Colorado (1983, Bar No. 13131, Active); Texas (1991, Bar No. 01473340, Eligible to Practice) |
| Known For | Founding Colorado’s largest personal injury firm; Walmart wage-and-hour class actions; Riddell helmet verdict; “The Strong Arm” branding |
Who Is Franklin Azar?
Franklin Azar is a longtime Colorado plaintiff’s attorney whose professional identity is closely tied to aggressive representation of injured clients against insurance companies, corporations, and other defendants. He founded his firm in 1987 after earlier service as an assistant district attorney and has grown it into a multi-office operation that handles a high volume of personal injury and related civil cases. Public records and the firm’s own materials consistently describe him as the driving force behind Colorado’s largest plaintiff-side personal injury practice.
Search interest in Azar often stems from his firm’s extensive advertising—billboards, television, and online presence featuring the “Strong Arm” slogan—as well as coverage of major cases and occasional legal disputes involving the firm or its marketing. Individuals researching him typically seek confirmation of his credentials, practice focus, firm affiliation, or details of notable matters he or his firm has handled. His background includes roots in southern Colorado legal and ranching communities; his father previously served as district attorney in the Trinidad area.
Azar’s professional significance lies in the scale of his firm and its track record in both individual injury claims and large-scale litigation. The firm has publicly claimed recoveries exceeding $1.5 billion (with some materials citing higher cumulative figures) for clients in car, truck, motorcycle, rideshare, and other accident cases, along with product liability, medical device, pharmaceutical, and employment-related class actions. He remains actively involved in complex litigation, including multi-district proceedings.
Franklin Azar’s Legal Career
Azar’s legal path began in public service. After law school he served as an assistant district attorney for Colorado’s Third Judicial District, reportedly the youngest attorney appointed to that role at the time. He has described preferring work that helped people recover compensation rather than focusing primarily on prosecution.
In 1987 he established Franklin D. Azar & Associates, P.C., initially a small operation that expanded steadily through contingency-fee personal injury work and larger collective actions. The firm later adopted the public-facing name Frank Azar Car & Truck Accident Lawyers while retaining the formal corporate identity. Over the ensuing decades it opened offices in Aurora (main), Denver, Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Thornton, Fort Collins, Boulder, Grand Junction, and additional Colorado locations, positioning itself as accessible statewide.
Key career developments include early and sustained involvement in wage-and-hour class actions against Walmart beginning in the mid-1990s. Azar filed the first of what became a multi-state series of cases challenging the retailer’s practices on rest and meal breaks, overtime, and off-the-clock work. Those matters produced significant jury verdicts and settlements totaling hundreds of millions of dollars across jurisdictions, including California, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota, and contributed to broader changes in how large employers addressed such claims. The firm has also pursued product liability and mass-tort litigation involving pharmaceuticals (such as matters related to Reglan, Yaz, Vioxx, and others), medical devices, and consumer products, including Ford Bronco II and Bridgestone/Firestone tire cases. In 2013 the firm secured an $11.5 million verdict in a Trinidad, Colorado, case involving a high-school football player’s injuries and a Riddell helmet; the jury apportioned a portion of liability to the manufacturer.
More recently, Azar has participated in multi-district litigation, including appointment to a Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee for matters involving DePuy Pinnacle hip implants. The firm continues to emphasize trial readiness in individual personal injury cases while maintaining a substantial class-action and mass-tort docket. Azar has also been involved in trademark and advertising-related litigation protecting the firm’s branding.
Education and Qualifications
Azar earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Colorado Boulder in 1979, graduating cum laude and as a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He received his Juris Doctor from the University of Denver (now Sturm College of Law) in 1982.
He was admitted to the Colorado bar on October 31, 1983 (Registration/Bar Number 13131). Official Colorado attorney records list his status as Active, with the firm Franklin D. Azar Associates P.C., a business address in Aurora, and no public disciplinary history on file. He was admitted to the State Bar of Texas on September 20, 1991 (Bar Card Number 01473340) and remains eligible to practice there; his primary practice location is listed as Aurora, Colorado. Additional admissions include the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth and Tenth Circuits and several U.S. District Courts (District of Colorado, Northern and Southern Districts of Texas, and Northern District of California).
Public professional profiles note memberships in organizations such as the Colorado Bar Association, Colorado Trial Lawyers Association, Texas Trial Lawyers Association, and the American Association for Justice (formerly ATLA). Specific additional certifications or board specialties are not prominently detailed in primary sources.
What Type of Law Does Franklin Azar Practice?
Azar’s practice centers on civil plaintiff’s work, primarily personal injury and related areas. Core categories include:
- Motor vehicle and transportation accidents: Car, truck, motorcycle, pedestrian, rideshare, and similar claims. These form a large share of the firm’s visible caseload. Representation typically involves investigation of liability, medical damages, lost wages, and negotiations or litigation with insurers.
- Workers’ compensation: Claims arising from workplace injuries, including construction and industrial accidents. The firm assists injured workers navigating administrative systems and related third-party liability where available.
- Product liability and mass torts: Defective products, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices. Documented involvement includes football helmets, certain drugs, hip implants, and other consumer or medical products. These often proceed as individual cases or coordinated multi-district litigation.
- Class actions and employment-related claims: Wage-and-hour, rest-break, and overtime violations, most notably the multi-state Walmart litigation. The firm has also handled other employment class actions.
- Insurance bad faith and related civil claims: Disputes over claim handling, unpaid benefits, and related issues.
The firm markets itself as preparing cases for trial to strengthen settlement leverage. Practice is contingency-fee based in the injury context, meaning fees are typically a percentage of recovery. Azar’s role has evolved from hands-on early career litigation to leadership of a large firm while remaining involved in significant matters.
Franklin Azar and Their Law Firm
Franklin D. Azar & Associates, P.C., founded by Azar in 1987, operates as a plaintiff-side personal injury firm with a substantial presence in Colorado. Public materials describe it as the state’s largest firm of its type by volume of attorneys, offices, and claimed recoveries. Headquarters are at 14426 E. Evans Avenue in Aurora, with additional locations serving Denver, Colorado Springs, Pueblo, northern Colorado cities, and mountain/western areas. Some sources reference roughly 60 attorneys and support staff supporting a high caseload.
The firm brands itself “The Strong Arm” and emphasizes accessibility (including 24/7 contact options in advertising) and aggressive advocacy. It handles both high-volume individual accident claims and larger collective actions. Recognition cited in professional directories includes Best Lawyers/Best Law Firms listings for certain practice areas, Super Lawyers selections for some attorneys, Million Dollar Advocates Forum membership, and other peer or industry designations. These are firm- or attorney-level recognitions based on peer review or other criteria and should be understood as such rather than independent government endorsements.
Azar serves as founding attorney, president, and owner. The firm’s growth reflects expansion of contingency-fee personal injury practice combined with strategic class-action and mass-tort work.
Notable Cases and Legal Work
Publicly documented matters associated with Azar or his firm include:
- Walmart wage-and-hour class actions: Beginning with filings in the mid-1990s (including an early Colorado case), the firm participated in a 26-state effort. Notable outcomes included a $172 million California jury verdict (later settled on appeal), a Pennsylvania verdict originally $78 million (later increased to approximately $188 million including interest and fees), a Minnesota settlement of about $54 million amid potential larger liability findings, and broader multi-state settlements totaling hundreds of millions. These cases addressed alleged failures to provide required breaks and pay for off-the-clock work.
- Riddell helmet case (2013): An $11.5 million verdict in Trinidad, Colorado, for a young man injured in a high-school football practice. The jury found liability apportioned among parties, with a portion against Riddell related to warnings about concussion risks. The firm has described it as one of the larger individual verdicts against a football helmet manufacturer.
- Pharmaceutical and medical device litigation: Involvement in cases concerning various drugs and devices (including appointment to leadership roles in certain MDLs such as DePuy Pinnacle hip implants). The firm has referenced handling thousands of related claims in some product categories.
- Other product liability: Cases involving vehicles and tires, among others.
Outcomes in individual cases vary widely and depend on specific facts, evidence, and jurisdiction. Large aggregate figures reported by the firm represent cumulative recoveries across many matters over decades and are not guarantees of results in any particular case. Azar has also pursued trademark enforcement related to the firm’s advertising and branding, including a settled lawsuit against an out-of-state firm that resulted in a $1.55 million payment and agreement to cease certain keyword advertising practices.
Franklin Azar’s Professional Reputation
Azar is widely recognized in Colorado legal and media circles as a high-profile personal injury practitioner whose firm’s advertising makes the “Strong Arm” name highly visible. Professional directories and firm materials highlight the scale of recoveries, trial work, and leadership roles in complex litigation. Official Colorado bar records confirm active status with no public disciplinary history. Texas records similarly show eligibility to practice.
Public coverage has included both positive accounts of major case results and reporting on business or legal disputes involving the firm (such as advertising-related litigation and a previously resolved tax matter with the IRS). Reputation in the personal injury field is often tied to volume of cases handled, advertising reach, and reported results rather than traditional corporate or defense-side metrics. Independent verification of any specific award or ranking should be checked against the issuing organization’s criteria and date.
Why Are People Searching for Franklin Azar?
Search demand is driven largely by the firm’s aggressive marketing across Colorado, which generates name recognition among people seeking representation after accidents. Interest also arises from news coverage of major class actions (especially Walmart), high-value verdicts, multi-district litigation roles, and occasional disputes over advertising practices or other firm-related matters. Prospective clients, opposing counsel, journalists, and researchers look up credentials, practice areas, office locations, and case history. The combination of visibility and the high-stakes nature of personal injury claims produces steady informational and navigational queries.
Is Franklin Azar a Legitimate Lawyer?
Yes. Official records from the Colorado Supreme Court’s Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel confirm Franklin David Azar (Bar No. 13131) was admitted October 31, 1983, holds Active status, practices with Franklin D. Azar Associates P.C. in Aurora, and has no public disciplinary history on file. Texas State Bar records confirm admission in 1991 and current eligibility to practice. These are verifiable through the respective state bar or attorney regulation websites. Membership in trial lawyer associations and listings in professional directories further corroborate an established practice. As with any attorney, potential clients should independently confirm current licensing and discuss specific case suitability directly.
Where Does Franklin Azar Practice Law?
Azar’s primary professional base is Aurora, Colorado, at the firm’s main office (14426 E. Evans Avenue). The firm maintains multiple additional offices throughout Colorado, enabling statewide representation in personal injury and related matters. He is admitted in Colorado and Texas and practices primarily in Colorado state and federal courts, with involvement in multi-district and multi-state litigation as needed. No private residential information is relevant or appropriate here; professional contact is directed through the firm’s public channels.
What Is Franklin Azar Known For?
Franklin Azar is known for founding and leading Colorado’s largest plaintiff personal injury firm, for extensive advertising under the “Strong Arm” trademark, and for significant roles in wage-and-hour class actions against Walmart and other product liability and mass-tort matters. His career trajectory—from assistant district attorney in southern Colorado to head of a multi-office contingency-fee practice—illustrates a focus on high-volume civil plaintiff’s work combined with complex collective litigation.
Conclusion
Franklin Azar has practiced law in Colorado for more than four decades, founding and leading a firm that has become one of the state’s most visible personal injury practices. From early work as an assistant district attorney to building a multi-office operation focused on contingency-fee representation of injured clients, his career emphasizes high-volume civil plaintiff’s work alongside significant class-action and product liability matters. Verified credentials confirm active Colorado licensure since 1983 and Texas admission since 1991, with no public disciplinary record in Colorado. Notable public results include contributions to large Walmart wage-and-hour recoveries and other complex litigation. Individuals considering representation or researching the attorney should consult official bar records and discuss their specific situation directly with qualified counsel. Professional locations, practice areas, and case outcomes remain matters of public record and firm reporting that can be independently reviewed.
FAQs
Who is Franklin Azar?
Franklin David Azar is a Colorado personal injury attorney and the founder of Franklin D. Azar & Associates, P.C., known for representing injured clients in accident, product liability, and class-action cases.
Is Franklin Azar a lawyer?
Yes. He has been licensed in Colorado since 1983 and in Texas since 1991, with active/eligible status confirmed in official records.
What type of law does Franklin Azar practice?
Primarily personal injury (including vehicle accidents), workers’ compensation, product liability, mass torts, class actions, and related insurance and employment claims.
What law firm is Franklin Azar associated with?
Franklin D. Azar & Associates, P.C., also operating publicly as Frank Azar Car & Truck Accident Lawyers (“The Strong Arm”).
Where did Franklin Azar attend law school?
University of Denver (J.D., 1982). Undergraduate degree from University of Colorado Boulder (1979).
What cases has Franklin Azar handled?
Documented matters include multi-state Walmart class actions resulting in large verdicts and settlements, the Riddell helmet product liability case, pharmaceutical and medical device litigation, and thousands of individual personal injury claims through the firm.
Does Franklin Azar have a public professional profile?
Yes. Information appears on the firm website, Colorado and Texas attorney regulation records, Martindale, Justia, Super Lawyers firm profiles, and other directories.
How can readers verify Franklin Azar’s credentials?
Check the Colorado Supreme Court Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel attorney search (Bar No. 13131) and the State Bar of Texas lawyer directory (Bar No. 01473340). Confirm current status and any public discipline records directly with those authorities.
Is the firm the largest personal injury firm in Colorado?
The firm and multiple professional profiles describe it as Colorado’s largest plaintiff-centered personal injury firm based on offices, attorney numbers, and claimed recoveries. Independent ranking methodologies may vary.
Has Franklin Azar faced professional discipline?
Official Colorado records list no public disciplinary history. Texas records indicate eligibility to practice.
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