Bankruptcy filings rise again in month

3/2/2004

Bankruptcy filings in northwest Ohio soared again last month, hitting 756, up 6 percent from a year ago and up more than 200 cases from the month before.

Still, year to date, the cases are behind last year's torrid pace by 43 cases. The 21 counties covered by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Toledo filed 1,281 cases in January and February, down 3 percent.

Chapter 7 liquidation cases, at 1,107, were down slightly so far this year than last year, but there were seven Chapter 11 business reorganization cases, up from two the previous year's first two months. There also was a 20 percent jump in Chapter 13 wage-earner repayment cases, at 167.