NATION DIGEST

NATION

Technical problems disrupt Google services

SAN FRANCISCO — An unknown number of people were cut off from Google Inc.’s search engine, e-mail and other online services Thursday, sparking a flurry of frustrated venting that served as a reminder of society’s growing dependence on Google’s technology.

Without providing specifics, Google said technical problems had prevented a “small subset of users” from getting into their e-mail accounts. The e-mail issues also had a ripple effect on other services, including Google’s search engine, according to the Mountain View-based company.

Madoff’s family faces possible legal action

NEW YORK — A court- appointed trustee unraveling Bernard Madoff’s massive fraud signaled Thursday that he may go after the disgraced financier’s family to pay victim claims, which have grown to almost 9,000.

Legal action against the family “is a matter that’s being looked into,” trustee Irving Picard said during a telephone conference call with reporters.

Picard already has filed lawsuits in bankruptcy court in Manhattan to try to force hedge funds and other large investors to return $10.1 billion in fictitious profits paid by Madoff’s firm, alleging they should have known about the fraud. As of Wednesday, there were 8,848 from customers claiming losses, he said.

From wire reports