A Crucial Call From JPMorgan’s Chief

In late September, four hours before the Justice Department planned to hold a news conference to announce civil charges against JPMorgan Chase over its sale of troubled mortgage securities, Jamie Dimon, the bank’s chief executive, personally called one of Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr.’s top lieutenants to reopen settlement talks, Ben Protess and Jessica Silver-Greenberg report in DealBook. The call scuttled the news conference and set in motion weeks of negotiations that have led to a tentative $13 billion deal, people briefed on the talks said.

Mr. Dimon is inextricably linked to the settlement, assuming the role of chief negotiator with the government. Despite the mounting legal problems, Mr. Dimon appears solidly ensconced in his job atop JPMorgan, Ms. Silver-Greenberg and Mr. Protess report in DealBook.