serious inquiry: brake fluid vs. pwr steering fluid

[excelguru]

I'm trying to help out a friend at work with this one. Here are the facts as we know them:

He has a late model mini-van (< 5 years old). The brakes recently failed so he took it to the shop. The shop is telling him that, apparently, the last time his brakes were serviced (by a different shop) power steering fluid was put into the brake system instead of brake fluid. According to the shop, the fluid has coagulated (sp?) into a thick, sticky mess and numerous components will need to be replaced entirely ($$$$$). When you consider that the ABS unit may have to be replaced, the cost of repair is quickly approaching the market value of the mini-van itself.

So the question is, can this really happen? Is the shop blowing smoke up up my friend's arse or is his brake system really toast? I suggested that he acquire a sample of the sticky mess in a glass jar just in case he needed to have it analyzed by a lab for legal reasons, as the quote is quickly reaching quadrouple digits.

Your input would be greatly appreciated.