In this unpublished decision, the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) held that reopening sua sponte was warranted to permit the respondent to have his application for adjustment of status heard on the merits. The Board noted that the law firm the respondent retained neglected to file a motion to substitute counsel after the attorney handling the respondent’s case left the firm, and that the firm did not advise the respondent of the court-imposed deadline to submit his adjustment application. The decision was written by Member John Guendelsberger and joined by Vice-Chairman Charles Adkins-Blanch and Member Elise Manuel.