craigerzz
10-14-2005, 09:36 AM
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Hundreds of Louisiana residents hit by hurricanes Katrina and Rita have flocked into bankruptcy court to seek protection from debtors before tougher new restrictions go into effect on Oct. 17.
In the New Orleans-based federal bankruptcy court of the Eastern District of Louisiana, 439 claims were processed on Wednesday, making 1,554 since October first. That's a ten-fold increase from last year.
Louisiana's three district bankruptcy offices have processed 28,604 bankruptcy filings since January first, which is more than all of 2004.
Last week, the U.S. House killed a bill by Sen. Mary Landrieu to postpone the new portions of the bankruptcy law for areas hit by Katrina and Rita. The U.S. Office of Trustees, which oversees bankruptcy cases for 48 states, said it would allow for special circumstances on a case-by-case basis for people affected by natural disasters.
In the New Orleans-based federal bankruptcy court of the Eastern District of Louisiana, 439 claims were processed on Wednesday, making 1,554 since October first. That's a ten-fold increase from last year.
Louisiana's three district bankruptcy offices have processed 28,604 bankruptcy filings since January first, which is more than all of 2004.
Last week, the U.S. House killed a bill by Sen. Mary Landrieu to postpone the new portions of the bankruptcy law for areas hit by Katrina and Rita. The U.S. Office of Trustees, which oversees bankruptcy cases for 48 states, said it would allow for special circumstances on a case-by-case basis for people affected by natural disasters.