On Wednesday, September 17, 2025, the Director of the Minnesota Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility filed a petition with the Minnesota Supreme Court seeking disciplinary action against attorney Jason W. Migala. The petition alleges that Migala engaged in unprofessional conduct warranting public discipline.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Jason W. Migala.”
The petition outlines Migala’s prior disciplinary history, including three private admonishments. The first, issued on January 14, 2010, was for failing to comply with a court order and failing to appear for a jury trial in a criminal matter, violating Rules 1.3, 3.2, 3.4(c), and 8.4(d) of the Minnesota Rules of Professional Conduct (MRPC).
A second admonishment, on March 15, 2015, cited violations of Rule 1.5(b)(1), MRPC, related to a flat fee retainer, and Rule 1.16(d), MRPC, for failing to provide a refund and a copy of a file promptly after the termination of an attorney-client relationship.
The most recent admonishment, dated November 15, 2022, involved failing to have a client countersign a receipt for a cash payment (Rule 1.15(h), MRPC, as interpreted by Appendix 1(II)(2)), failing to place an advanced flat fee retainer into a trust account without a signed flat fee agreement (Rule 1.15(c)(5), MRPC), and describing a fee as “nonrefundable” (Rule 1.5(b)(3), MRPC).
The current petition includes two counts of alleged misconduct. The first count relates to Migala’s representation of a client, R.R., in an assault case in Stearns County in 2017. According to the petition, R.R. informed Migala that he was not a U.S. citizen but a permanent resident. R.R. pleaded guilty to assault, with the charge to be treated as a gross misdemeanor.
The petition alleges that Migala advised R.R. that the conviction would not have negative immigration consequences. However, R.R. was later detained by immigration officials after traveling to the Dominican Republic because his conviction was classified as an “aggravated felony” due to the sentence of 365 days. The petition claims Migala failed to ensure R.R. was sentenced to less than 365 days to avoid this classification. It is also alleged that Migala disclosed confidential information related to his representation of R.R. in an online post responding to a negative review from R.R.’s wife, N.R., violating Rule 1.6(a).
The second count concerns Migala’s representation of C.C. in two separate cases: a probation violation in Douglas County (starting October 2019) and a criminal matter in Stearns County (starting November 2020). C.C. paid Migala a $4,500 flat fee for each case, with agreements stating representation “through trial and sentencing” and describing the fees as “nonrefundable.” After C.C. expressed dissatisfaction and sought to terminate Migala in the Stearns County case, Migala withdrew. The petition alleges Migala failed to provide C.C. with a refund for the unearned portion of the flat fee in the Stearns County matter, violating Rules 1.5(b)(3) and 1.16(d).
The petition states:
“WHEREFORE, the Director respectfully prays for an order of this Court imposing appropriate discipline, awarding costs and disbursements pursuant to the Rules on Lawyers Professional Responsibility, and for such other, further or different relief as may be just and proper.”
According to Avvo.com, Mr. Migala is a criminal defense attorney in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. He attended the University of St. Thomas School of Law, graduating in 2004. He acquired his law license in Minnesota in the same year.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
