Settlement secures roughly $100,000 in refunds for dozens of immigrants who paid for legal services not properly rendered.

(SAINT PAUL) – Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, announced a settlement that includes refunds to dozens of clients, many of them Somali or Ethiopian, who had retained immigration legal services by Daniel Patrick Brown, and DPB Legal, PLLC (collectively “DPB Legal”). Between 2021 and 2023, DPB Legal accepted 100 clients who were seeking asylum in the U.S. so that they would not be deported. When representing the clients DPB Legal provided many of them an incorrect representation regarding when they would be eligible to receive a work authorization permit.

Under immigration law, an asylum applicant is generally eligible to apply for work authorization 150 days after filing their asylum petition, which allows for lawful work while the applicant waits for the long immigration process to conclude. However, DPB Legal informed its clients, after collecting their retainer payments, that their 150-day clock would actually begin ticking down upon the filing of only a partial application (the first 3 pages of the 12-page form). When clients learned that DPB Legal had misinformed them, many terminated services but were not provided a refund by DPB Legal. They then had to start their asylum process over again with a new lawyer which caused strain, lost time, missed work opportunities, and additional expense.

The order approved by a Ramsey County state court requires DPB Legal to cease and refrain from making any misstatements to asylum clients and prospective asylum clients, including, but not limited to, misstatements about when an asylum applicant is eligible to apply for or receive a work authorization permit. The order also provides for refunds for former and current clients which will amount to approximately $100,000.

“I am pleased that DPB Legal has now agreed to refund clients who were misinformed about the asylum process,” said Attorney General Ellison. “Everyone makes mistakes, but it’s what we do in those moments of recognizing our errors that matters the most. We appreciate Mr. Brown’s cooperation.”

Consumers who are considering hiring an attorney can refer to the Attorney General’s “Hiring an Attorney” publication: Hiring an Attorney. Consumers who wish to report concerns about their attorneys may contact the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility at (651) 296-3952 or (800) 657-3601 and www.lprb.mncourts.gov.

Attorney General Ellison urges Minnesota consumers to report their consumer complaints by submitting a complaint online. Minnesotans can also contact the Attorney General’s Office by phone at (651) 296-3353 (Metro), (800) 657-3787 (Greater Minnesota), or (800) 627-3529 (Minnesota Relay).

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