Derby man fined $60K for practicing law without license

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — A Derby man entered into a consent judgment with the District Attorney’s Office on Thursday for allegedly practicing law without a license.

Court documents show Andrew Wells, of Derby, met with a woman at his “law office” in Goddard, who hired him to represent her in a payment dispute with the Social Security Administration.

The DA’s office said Wells quoted the customer $2,000, of which the customer paid $500 — $100 a month over a five-month period — for his services. During that time, the woman continued to receive notices from the SSA, which resulted in the full garnishment of at least one of her benefit checks in June.

The news release said Wells continued to assure the woman that he was in the process of
filing motions to fight her case. She requested Wells return the documents she provided to him and stop any legal work, but Wells continued to state he would fight the case and failed to return her documents.

Investigators confirmed with the Kansas Attorney Registration Office that Wells was not, nor had he ever been, a licensed attorney in the state of Kansas.

The DA’s office alleged Wells violated the Kansas Consumer Protection Act by failing to provide the customer with a material benefit, making misleading statements and engaging in the unauthorized practice of law.

Wells admitted to violating the KCPA and entered into a consent judgment to settle the matter, according to the DA. As part of the agreement, he agreed to pay $500 in restitution to the consumer. The court assessed a $60,000 civil penalty, as well as court costs and investigative fees.

In addition to promising not to perform or contract for any work he doesn’t have the license to perform, he also promised to cooperate with any future investigations.

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