Foreclosure filings in Madison County were up more than 20 percent from last year -- 1,271 in 2009 to 1,549 in 2010.
According to figures provided by the Circuit Clerk's office, foreclosure filings dipped in 2009 – the year President Obama rolled out a national Loan Modification Program - after rising steadily from 2006 as the housing market began to unravel. However, in 2010 the number of new filings rose by 278 over the previous year.
In other civil case filings, records show a drop in the number of asbestos cases in 2010 from 2009. However, deputy Circuit Clerk Judy Nelson indicated an official tally will not be available for a couple of weeks.
Preliminary records show that asbestos filings, which have been on a steady increase over the past few years, decreased in 2010 to 752 – down from 814 in 2009.
Class action cases increased slightly from eight in 2009 to nine in 2010. Medical malpractice claims declined from 26 in 2009 to 15 in 2010.