Apparently he also had insurance, and the hospital should have sent the bill to his insurer.

"I can't believe that in any country besides the U.S., any civilized country, that the parents of a murdered boy would receive this bill for $29,000 and such an insulting letter," Gerald Hawkins, the victim's father, told ABC 10 in Sacramento, CA.

The bill in question was for "five minutes in [the hospital's] emergency room," says ABC 10, who tried to assess why 5 minutes could cost $29,000.

Scott Seamons with the California Hospital Council said the critical response to Hawkins is what cost the most. He said UC Davis is a Level 1 Trauma Center, which means the best and most expensive doctors were waiting for Scott.

"Whether it was five minutes or 55 minutes doesn't really matter in the initial review and assessment of the patient," he said.

Trauma surgeons, nurses, technicians and more had to treat Scott before they realized they couldn't help, according to Seamons.

"They're all right there," he said. "And those are highly trained, highly specialized and highly paid clinical experts. Clearly in the aftermath, in hindsight, they looked at it and determined there was probably less need for that, but in the first five minutes all of those resources were right there at the side of this patient, and they cost a lot of money."

ABC 10 says that the letter included with the bill instructed the deceased to take his health care needs to a county clinic in the future. The hospital has apologized.

Why was Murdered Sac State Student's ER Bill So High? [News 10]
Slain Sac State Student's Parents Stunned by Hospital Bill, Letter [News 10]

Prosecutors say Daniel Weston and Mary Ann Parmelee hired two loan modification agents in hopes of keeping their home but believed the men took their money and did nothing.

Each of the alleged torturers are being held on about $1 million bail each.

5 Charged With Torturing Home Loan Agents [KTLA via Fark]
(Photo:austrini)

CBS 5 spoke with a man who had uploaded his resume to CalJOBS, the state jobs website where residents must register in order to receive unemployment benefits. The man bookmarked the URL where his data was, but each subsequent time he viewed the link, he saw different users' information, including addresses, employment history, and other information that could easily be used by identity thieves.

After CBS 5 showed the glitch to a computer security expert, they discovered that it was possible to modify other people's resumes.

California says they've since fixed the glitch and are going through the site to make sure there aren't any more giant security liabilities. We're glad it's back up, as there are probably a few former state IT workers who need unemployment benefits.

Security Flaws Discovered in California EDD Website [CBS 5]
(Photo: Amazon)
Thanks, Matt!

"I told them my house had burned to the ground and that I wouldn't need DirecTV anymore," he said. "They said, 'OK.' "

But on Oct. 1, Gray saw that DirecTV had withdrawn nearly $280 from his bank account. He immediately called the company to ask what was up.

"They said it was a non-return fee for my two satellite boxes," Gray recalled. "They said it wasn't negotiable."

Luckily Ken Gray got in touch with reporter David Lazarus and the company said that they had neglected to flag Mr. Gray for "special handling." Fair enough. But why couldn't the customer service reps had a soul in the first place?

DirecTV customer service leaves Station fire victim feeling burned [LAT] (Thanks to Angela!)

RELATED:
AT&T Asks CA Wildfire Victims If They Remembered To Pick Up Satellite Receiver As They Fled Their Burning House
Comcast: Fire Destroyed Your Cable Box? Pay Up.

(Photo: mbtrama)

Seems that some faulty meters were installed back then and now PG&E has figured out they underbilled the house. Problem is, Josh's parents didn't buy the house until 1986.

Josh writes:

My mother lives in a house in California that was built in the 40's. PG&E installed a meter sometime in the early 70's. As far back as I can remember we had to use the little meter cards, or a tech would come and read the meter personally. Now with the advent of the "smart meter" they dont have to read cards or check the meter. They can just check it remotely.

Here's where PG&E gets dicey. They have decided to start charging my parents an extra $800-$1000 dollars per month because they say that the meters that were installed in the 70's were faulty. When we bring up the fact that tech would read the cards or the meters themselves, they shrug it off and say that they were improperly trained. So now we are stuck paying the difference for power that was used in the 70's (before we even moved in in 1986 might I add!). So now what do my parents do? They are content letting PG&E charge them outrageous prices for power that we didnt use, but I am a bit more up to date on consumer rights and whatnot, so I need your help on the best course of action.

Thanks a bunch,

-Josh (an aggravated PG&E customer)

Whodjawhutzit? How can that be right? What the heck is going on?

Sounds like a case for the California Public Utilities Commission, 1-800-649-7570 or file a complaint here.

(Photo: oskay)

EaterSF says that when their tipster asked about the logistics of the "Las Vegas," the cashier said, "We do it right here!"

Well, there ya go.

Special Oakland Creperie Will Spank You For A Mere $25 [Eater SF] (Thanks, DK!)
(Photo:Eater SF)

Bob writes:

The state of California requires all LLC companies to file a Statement of Information with them every 2 years and pay a $20.00 filing fee. When I opened my mail yesterday to find the attached solicitation. Normally, I disregard all of them, as I can usually tell just by looking at the unopened envelope. I knew this was a solicitation, but opened it out of curiosity. I found form inside that VERY closely resembles an authentic Secretary of State form that must be filed by every LLC in the state of California. They are trying to scare people into sending them $200+ to file a form that really only costs $20 and that is only IF it must be filed. Even though the form explicitly states that this is not a government agency, I found this very interesting and immediately thought to bring it to the attention of the Consumerist. I am an avid reader of the sites and realize that the average Consumerist will disregard these immediately if they receive one, but I thought it would be nice to mention.

The actual form is viewable here (PDF). Both are posted below. Although they're not identical, they're pretty similar (and would have to be, considering the fake form will be used to complete and file a real statement). The seal in the upper left is an especially sneaky touch.
Real:





Fake:







We're glad Bob read this carefully and wasn't duped into paying way more than he needed to. Have you ever received a faux-official notice or warning like this?

(Photo: ToastyKen)
Thanks, Bob!

[Harriet Harman] said the website was a "very sinister development" in the trade and exploitation of women and allows guests to compare and rate services in the same way as they would a restaurant, a hotel or a holiday.

Pimps put women on sale for sex on the site then clients offered their comments on line, she said.

"Punternet has pages and pages of women for sale in London," said Harman, who is deputy leader of Prime Minister Gordon Brown's Labor Party.

What do you think? If prostitution is legal, should ratings websites exist for it?

"Britain asks Schwarzenegger to close prostitute website" [Reuters]
(Photo: JeffChristiansen)

[Paul] spoke with a customer service representative who identified herself as Lisa, who "told me that the reason [his credit limit] was cut back was due in part to the financial situation in California. Also in Nevada, Florida and Arizona."

MSNBC contacted HSBC for confirmation, but the bank only provided an intentionally vague response that neither confirmed nor denied whether the state you live in might impact your ability to get credit.

"Living in California Bad for Your Credit?" [MSNBC] (Thanks to Alicia!)
(Photo: paalia)

The real pain is being felt by the actors, and not just by those who specialize in scenes involving leather, latex or gardening tools:

For the 1,200 active performers in the Valley this means less action and more hardship. A young woman without [Nina] Hartley's name-recognition might have charged $1,000 for a straight scene before the crisis, but gets $800 or less now. Men are worse hit. If they averaged $500 for a straight scene in 2007, they are now lucky to get $300.

In addition to the recession, the industry is fighting an even greater evil: free and cheap porn on the internet. Porn, says actress Nina Hartley, is now "like potato chips, everywhere and cheap, to be consumed and tossed." Um, ah, oh, never mind.

Hard times [The Economist]

(Photo: Great Beyond)

It turns out that the KFC has been replaced by... a KFC. In this instance, though, the KFC stands for "Kind For Cures", and while they do sell things that are edible, you can't buy them, or even ask about them, without a prescription.

I bet Yum Brands is just thrilled.

New KFC Opens In Palms? Sort of...(Instead of Fried Chicken, They Sell Marijuana) [LA Weekly]
(Photo: Noah Galuten)

"California state garage sale: Many things must go" [Los Angeles Times]
(Photo: m.gifford)

A passenger gave the paper a picture she took on her cellphone camera as the man was being arrested by quite a few uniformed individuals. We counted 6, but that might be another one behind him. We're not sure.

The paper says 10 sheriff's deputies boarded the plane.

Passenger takes it all off, plane turns around [SF Chronicle]
(Photo:Danielle Lichliter / Special to The Chronicle)

What's that, you say? People lining up for rationed health care voluntarily? That can't be right.

The Forum, located in Inglewood, Calif., is hosting a visit from Remote Area Medical (RAM), a volunteer group that usually provides free medical, dental, and veterinary care to people living in poverty in remote areas. Recent cuts to Medicaid and health care programs for California's working poor have left many people without care quite suddenly. RAM has found a grateful population in Los Angeles—some of whom drove hours to wait in line for care.

Ana Maria Garcia, who works for Orange County, has health insurance that covers her husband and 3 ½-year-old daughter, but her dental deductibles are too high for them all to get care, she said.

Ms. Garcia's husband, Jorge, who was laid off from his custodial job last October, arrived from their home - a 90-minute drive away - at 4 p.m. on Tuesday to get the family's spot in line.

But the Garcias' number never came up, so they slept in their car for a few hours and lined up again early Wednesday morning, awaiting a chance to get root canals and cleanings that Ms. Garcia figured were worth thousands of dollars. They made a friend in the bleachers outside, who gave the family some coffee and hot biscuits for breakfast.

"Regardless if you are employed or not," Ms. Garcia said, "everything in California is expensive, and so I can empathize with everyone here. Looking at this crowd, I think this is what people fear health care is going to be with reform. But to me it also shows the need."

Interestingly, more people would be able to receive care, but there was a shortage of medical professionals in the area willing to volunteer their time.

Thousands Line Up for Promise of Free Health Care [NY Times] (Thanks, Kelly!)

(Photo: meta viendo)

Starting tomorrow, GM will list up to 20,000 vehicles on the on-line auction house for your bidding pleasure. Initially, the test will only include dealerships in California, but if the program gets a A+++++++++++++++!!!!! you can expect a nationwide roll-out.

"Together with eBay Motors, GM and our dealers are reinventing the car-buying experience for our California customers," Mark LaNeve, G.M.'s vice president for U.S. sales, said in a statement. "As the dealer showroom expands from the parking lot to the laptop, this makes it easier for a customer to browse available new-car inventory, make an offer, buy it now, or send a message asking for more information from a dealer - all at the customer's convenience."

G.M. Sees eBay as a Way to Reach New Buyers [NYT]
GM Finalizes Pilot Plan To Sell New Vehicles On EBay [WSJ]

From the OC Register:

"The agreement in place requires confidentiality. We can't discuss it other than to say (that) the matter has been resolved amicably," said Van Fleet, the chain's vice president of planning and development."

We're sure the gyros are good and everything, but c'mon, that's pretty blatant. Be your own restaurant, Nicky! You're your own special, unique person.

In-N-Out settles suit against Chicago area copycat [OC Register]
(Nicky's photo obtained from court records submitted by In-N-Out)

The brilliant individuals who masterminded this theft were caught when three bags loaded with goodies were checked on two different flights and items stolen from the bags were found in an employee's work locker. The decoy items included a game system, an Apple laptop, a gold watch and foreign currency.

The custom-made handgun was later recovered from one of the workers' home.

Remember not to check your valuables, folks.

Three baggage handlers convicted in thefts [SFGate] (Thanks, Laurel!)
(Photo:Christopher Vigliotti)

Russian or Armenian Mob Used "Model Employee" Con at PCH Arco [LA WEEKLY] (Thanks to Angela!)
PREVIOUSLY: Credit Card Skimmers Attack Arco Gas Stations In California

According to the Sacramento Bee:

Romano's Macaroni Grill, with four locations in the [Sacramento] region, has managed to squeeze a whopping 880 calories out of just one salad, as the chain's menu undergoes a massive revamp under new ownership.
...
The new [Denny's] Grand Slam – two eggs, two sausages, two bacon slices and pancakes – is a build-your-own option with substitutions such as chicken instead of pork, egg whites, turkey bacon and whole wheat pancakes. For another 49 cents, add-ons such as yogurt are available.

With the healthier options, the Grand Slam drops from 882 calories to 546, not to mention a 70 percent drop in fat grams.

This is a nice bonus of menu-labeling: some restaurants will be too ashamed to continue offering items like 1,200 calorie salads and will look for ways to make their foods more healthful. Although we're sure there will be complaints about a person's individual freedom to eat as much crap and be as fat as he wants, we think the public health benefits outweigh such concerns (especially considering that in the instances here, Denny's is keeping things like Moon Over My Hammy intact, and the type of person we just described probably wasn't celebrating his gluttony with a 1,200-calorie scallop and spinach salad at Macaroni Grill).

Although it's good to see restaurants retooling their menus, the main purpose of menu-labeling laws is to allow consumers to make informed decisions about the foods they eat. It's up to you, not the restaurant, to ensure you eat reasonably.

California Calorie Law Alters Chains' Fare [SacBee]
(Photo: satosphere)

What's BPA? It's in plastic, and it's not very good for humans.

Never meant to be ingested, BPA has potential links to an array of human health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, cancers, infertility, obesity, and neurological disorders. A 2007 Centers for Disease Control study showed that 93 percent of Americans have BPA in their urine. And a recent study suggests that BPA stays in the body longer than previously believed. Babies and young children may be particularly vulnerable because they may metabolize BPA more slowly than adults.

Several government and non-governmental scientific bodies have assessed the safety of BPA, and indicated concerns, while the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not yet. Since 2007, Congress has questioned whether the BPA industry has been unduly influential in FDA's assessment of scientific studies of BPA. Congress recently introduced legislation to ban BPA in food contact substances and FDA has initiated yet another review of BPA safety-and the hope is that this time, more than a handful of selected studies will be considered.

Legislation has passed the California state Senate that would ban BPA use in items intended for use by children under three, but is unlikely to pass the Assembly, which is quite unfortunate.

California is new front line of BPA fight [Grist]

(Photo: fallenposters)

According to TMZ, the lawsuit alleges that the giveaway was a "scam to deceive its customers into spending more dough."

From TMZ:

The suit says this "bait and switch" caused customers to incur "travel costs, paper and printing costs, postage, the money they spent on other food items at KFC on visits when they had intended to redeem the Coupon ... and the loss of the value of the promised Meal."

What do you think? Are you angry enough at KFC's lack of planning to sue them?

Customers: KFC Giveaway Clucked Up Our Lives [TMZ] (Thanks, J!)

Molly writes:

My brother signed up for a monthly membership to Gold's Gym a few months before he deployed to Afghanistan. At the time he was told that he would not have a problem terminating his membership when he deployed. Before he left for Afghanistan he brought in a copy of his deployment letter to Gold's Gym and was assured that his membership would be terminated while he was abroad. After his first month in Afghanistan, my brother realized that he was still being charged for his gym membership. He asked my mom to assist him with the matter so she faxed and mailed additional copies of his deployment letter to both the Gold's Gym in Oxnard and to Gold's Gym's financial office. These additional copies of his deployment letter were "misplaced" and 2 months later he is still being charged for a gym membership that he cannot use! What a pitiful way to treat our servicemen and women.

The gym appears to be violating California Civil Code §1812.89(b), which gives anyone the right to cancel if they move more than 25 miles from the gym.

(b) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), every contract for health studio (Ed. Gyms count as "health studios," along with any place that provides "instruction, training or assistance in physical culture, body building, exercising, reducing, figure development and other similar skills.") services shall contain a clause providing that if the person agreeing to receive health studio services moves further than 25 miles from the health studio and is unable to transfer the contract to a comparable facility, such person shall be relieved from the obligation of making payment for services other than those received prior to the move, and if such person has prepaid any sum for health studio services, so much of such sum as is allocable to services he or she has not taken shall be promptly refunded.

If the gym is billing a credit card, Molly's brother can also file a chargeback and ask the bank to refuse all future charges.

Overview of California's Health Studio Services Contract Law: Legal Guide W-10 [California Department of Consumer Affairs]
(Photo: Arturo de Albornoz)

[USAToday]
(Photo:The Cornballer)

The practice, known as "rescission," is explained in this Q&A from Frontline with Karen Pollitz, a research professor at Georgetown University who studies health care finance:

How does this work?

[It works] particularly in underwritten policies, particularly where you had to show eligibility to get into a policy. It happens most in the individual insurance market, but it can happen in group policies as well.

Once you make a big claim, particularly in the first year or two of coverage, there's an incentive for the insurer to go back and investigate and see, is there any reason why you shouldn't have been in this policy in the first place? Maybe the claim is for a brain tumor, and the insurer can go back and comb through your records and realize: "Oh! Six months before you bought this policy, you complained to the doctor that you were having headaches. That's a symptom. This was pre-existing. Had I known you had a brain tumor when I sold you the policy, I wouldn't have sold you the policy, and so I'm taking it back, and I won't be paying the claim"; or, "I'll declare that this tumor was pre-existing. You can keep the policy, but I won't pay the claims related to your pre-existing condition."

Or they may find out you weren't eligible. I heard a story once about somebody who made a claim for their child, and she was remarried. Her husband was not the child's father, and the policy that he had through work didn't cover stepchildren. And no one had really asked about child/stepchild when they applied, and they were perfectly happy to get the premiums while nobody was making claims, but once the kid got sick, this got investigated, and retroactively he was taken off the policy.

According to the LA Times the new regulations would :

• Require insurers to write applications for coverage in plain English
• Allow applicants a "not sure" answer to questions about their preexisting medical conditions
• Bar insurers from dropping someone if the companies failed to thoroughly investigate an applicant's medical history before issuing a policy.
• Bar a cancellation if the patient was unaware of the medical information being sought on the application or failed to appreciate its significance.

For more info about rescission check out this episode of Frontline.

Proposal would combat rescissions of health insurance policies in California [LA Times]
(Photo:kath-leen)

MSNBC reports,

The video rental giant agreed Monday to pay $300,000 in "civil fines and costs" as part of a ruling against them for unfair business practices, officials announced yesterday.

[...]

The civil complaint alleged Blockbuster stores in California charged customers more than the currently advertised or posted price on scanned items in violation of unfair competition and false advertising statutes.

Blockbuster was also "prohibited" from overcharging customers in the future, which we think would make a swell new advertising campaign for them: "Now with no sneaky markups at the register!"

"Blockbuster Fined for Defrauding Customers" [MSNBC] (Thanks to Anthony!)
(Photo: Felixe)

"It tells me, they don't care," David Lazier of Sacramento County Weights and Measures told Kurtis. He says it shows, "their business model, their business practice (that) sloppiness is okay".

The Kohl's store in Elk Grove failed it's September inspection. The report shows inspectors were charged $44.99 for a set of sheets supposed to be $22.49. It also shows a jacket on sale for $50, rung up $69.99. Inspections reports reveal the Kohl's in Natomas has also overcharged customers, as did a location in Modesto. The store on Antelope Boulevard in Sacramento County failed two inspections in 2008.

The first person Kurtis could find outside the Kohl's Antelope store said she's been overcharged. "It's happened a lot, at least five or six times".

Sacramento County fined Kohl's stores more than $2000 last year, but Lazier says the department store hasn't fixed the problem.

"The information they gave us is we were too busy to get around to get that taken care of, well that's not the consumers problem, that's store management problem," Lazier told Kurtis.

The Sacramento District Attorney is investigating the pricing discrepancies and could haul Kohl's into court, where the fines reach far higher than $2,000.

Call Kurtis Investigates: Kohl's Overcharges [CBS13]
(Photo: dno1967)

The controversy over the name heated up in 2006 when Stacey Crummett, chief executive of Hollister-based Rag City Blues, added the word "Hollister" to the label of her vintage bluejeans. In response to her trademark application, Abercrombie & Fitch attorneys sent her a letter alleging she was violating the company's trademark and threatening to sue.

Crummett, who runs the business with her husband, said she added the name simply to identify the location of her headquarters. But she backed down and removed the name from the labels.

"They are a lot bigger than us," she said. "I said, 'Let's just not argue.' "

Once word spread about Crummett's run-in with Abercrombie & Fitch, locals and city officials began to fume, saying that the clothing firm was preventing them from showing their hometown pride on T-shirts and jackets.

"To me, it's a bunch of baloney," said Raul Gonzalez, 70, working at his one-room barbershop on 6th Street. "We were here long before they thought of [the apparel line]."

Even students at Hollister's San Benito High School wonder if they are violating Abercrombie & Fitch's trademark by wearing shirts emblazed with the school nickname, the Hollister Haybalers.

Hollister City Attorney Stephanie Atigh insists that A&F's lawyers are wearing their turtlenecks a little too tight. "There is no way you can trademark Hollister, Calif.," she said. "It's a geographical place."

Hollister, Calif., is at odds with Abercrombie over name [The Los Angeles Times] (Thanks to Melisa!)

The plaintiffs had argued in their lawsuit that the Department of Agriculture had overstepped the scope of its regulatory authority when it implemented the sterilization rule. But a U.S. District Court judge in Washington, Ellen Segal Huvelle, dismissed the case on Monday on technical grounds - finding that the almond growers among the plaintiffs have no right to judicial review and that the handlers must seek an administrative remedy before coming to court.

[...]

Bill Marler, a Seattle lawyer who for 15 years has represented plaintiffs in major food safety cases, including the 2004 salmonella cases that were traced to almonds, said Thursday that pasteurization is necessary.

"I can understand from dealing with the raw juice and raw milk and raw food people that they are very adamant that their products are better than pasteurized products. But in this instance, the evidence is very clear that this is the type of product that needs to be pasteurized," he said.

Do you care whether your almonds are pasteurized or not? Did you even know almonds could be pasteurized?

Judge rules U.S. almonds must be pasteurized [San Francisco Chronicle]

The quotes are many and varied, but apparently one of them simply says "this place sucks." Hey, its like the old saying, "When life gives you lemons, make funny t-shirts to hide the pain." Wait.

Anyway, we should probably do this with our comments. Anyone want to buy a "Why is this on Consumerist?" t-shirt?

The Yelp Tee: Almost More Brilliant Than Pizzeria Delfina's Pizza [7x7 via BuzzFeed]

The anonymous posts alleged that Korbel retaliated against employees who reported sexual harassment, bribed law enforcement and was planning on cutting down redwood trees on its property. Korbel says the allegations damaged the company and is trying to force Comcast into revealing the identities of the posters.

Comcast says it will comply with a court order if one is given — but only after informing its customers that their identities are being sought.

"Our policy is to give our customer notice and sufficient time to decide whether to contest the disclosure," [a Comcast spokesperson] said.

If they do not choose to fight, their identities would be revealed.

Korbel wants Comcast to ID anonymous critics [Press Democrat]

The law was never enforced because a lower court barred it from taking effect back in 2006.

Jack Thompson is going to be pissed.

"California's video game law ruled unconstitutional" [Reuters]
(Photo: No More Heroes, Ubisoft)

Not too surprising — the Midwest offers a good value with Indianapolis topping the charts as the most affordable city in the US. New York, of course, is the least affordable, followed by San Francisco, which is no shock to anyone who has lived in, or even visited those two cities.

In order to qualify, each metro area had to have over 500,000 people.

Top 10 Least Affordable Cities

1. New York City, NY
2. San Francisco, CA
3. Nassau/Suffolk Counties, NY
4. Los Angeles, CA
5. Miami, FL
6. Santa Ana, Anaheim, Irvine, CA
7. El Paso, TX
8. Newark, NJ
9. Honolulu, HI
10. Seattle, WA

Top 10 Most Affordable Cities

1. Indianapolis, IN
2. Warren, Troy, Farmington Hills, MI
3. Youngstown, Warren, Boardman, OH-PA
4. Detroit, MI
5. Grand Rapids, MI
6. Syracuse, NY
7. Dayton, OH
8. Akron, OH
9. Cleveland, OH
10. Scranton, PA

For more data to play with, visit the NAHB.

(Photo:Donna Cazadd)

From KABC:

"That's all I want is for someone to hear me out," said Torres. "For someone to help us out, work with us, work on a loan, because if not, they're just going to sell the house under the home price, way under the price, and that's not going to help the economy out, that's not going to help us out, that not going to help the banks out. And I just don't see — that's a three-way loss."

They mayor of the town is supportive of Mr. Torres, who is apparently a normal, hardworking guy.

"This is a prime example of what cities have to do all over California, all over the nation," said Carson Mayor Jim Dear. "They need to reach out to their population, to the constituencies, and look at creative solutions, because this gentlemen, he works, his wife works. They're bringing in a decent income but yet, this adjustable mortgage that he was stuck with, still couldn't make the payments."

Meanwhile, President Obama is expected to announce a new $50 -$100 billion foreclosure program which would include subsidies to lower borrower's interest rates (the government funds would have to be matched by the lender's own money), says the New York Times. The subsidies are intended to function as an incentive for lenders to refinance troubled loans, but its still unclear if the program will be more effective than the current voluntary programs. The Times says that 9% of all mortgages were either delinquent or in foreclosure at the end of 2008.

Man holds foreclosed Carson house hostage [KABC]