Bankruptcies reach record level

During first-quarter 2003, more Americans filed bankruptcy than in any other quarter in history, according to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. The 412,968 new cases filed in the first quarter represent a 9 percent increase from the same period in 2002.

Bankruptcy filings in Western District Court increased by 18 percent in the first six months of 2003 (9,010 filings), compared to the same period of 2002 (7,628 filings), according to John Cisternino, chief deputy bankruptcy clerk in Kansas City.