Italian Bankruptcy BANK-rupt-see A legal process through which individuals or businesses that cannot repay their debts seek relief from some or all of their financial obligations. The process allows debtors to either reorganize their finances and repay creditors over time (Chapter 11) or liquidate assets to pay off debts (Chapter 7). The company filed for bankruptcy after facing mounting financial difficulties and an inability to meet its debt obligations. In 2008, Lehman Brothers, a global financial services firm, filed for bankruptcy, triggering a major financial crisis. The bankruptcy filing was the largest in U.S. history at the time and had far-reaching consequences for the global economy. ← Back to BrowseNext Term →