Personal bankruptcies surge in Southern California

Going legally broke has made a big comeback — especially in the Los Angeles area — despite a mid-decade revision to the U.S. Bankruptcy Code intended to curb filings. The number of Southern Californians seeking bankruptcy protection nearly doubled in 2008 from 2007 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court’s seven-county California Central District, by far the biggest increase in the nation. For the full story click here