Going Broke

The dank and narrow hallway outside the office of Ayman Oueidat, Mount Lebanon’s chief bankruptcy judge, is almost always cluttered with visitors, some of whom wait in line for more than an hour for the chance to see him. “The country is falling apart,” shouts the impatient judge to two lawyers bickering in front of his desk. “Try to solve this problem the office of Ayman Oueidat, Mount Lebanon’s chief bankruptcy judge, is almost always cluttered with visitors, some of whom wait in line for more than an hour for the chance to see him. “The country is falling apart,” shouts the impatient judge to two lawyers bickering in front of his desk. “Try to solve this problem between yourselves.” Smart advice. With the economy near comatose, some of Lebanon’s five bankruptcy courts have been working at full throttle. “We’re seeing 35 new cases a month,” says Oueidat, busily flicking