Thursday, September 01, 2005

New bankruptcy law a problem for Katrina victims

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Hurricane Katrina is expected to cause a spurt of bankruptcy filings by storm victims -- and sweeping changes in U.S. bankruptcy laws may leave them even more strapped than they otherwise might be.
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The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act, which takes effect October 17, includes a slew of rules and restrictions intended to curb abuse. These are expected to make it harder for individuals to file to keep creditors away, and more difficult for businesses to reorganize.

But the law wasn't directed at people who file because of catastrophes such as Katrina, in which people lost homes, businesses and perhaps months of regular paychecks. Katrina has caused widespread devastation in Louisiana and Mississippi and left New Orleans, population 462,269, virtually uninhabitable.

"People who are seriously affected by this hurricane are not going to be able to file bankruptcy by October 17," said Henry Sommer, co-editor of "Collier on Bankruptcy," a leading reference work. "They have more pressing things in their lives, like survival."

Michigan's John Conyers, the ranking Democrat on the U.S. House of Representatives' Judiciary Committee, and three other House members pledged to soon introduce legislation to provide flexibility for victims of natural disasters in bankruptcy.

Conyers' aides said legislation may be introduced next week, but aides to House Republicans said the law doesn't need amending because it only cracks down on abuse. Aides to Sen. Russ Feingold (news, bio, voting record), a Wisconsin Democrat, said he might try to postpone the October 17 implementation date.

Posted by crimnos @ 10:04 PM