I would hope that Mr. Dimon is entertaining a settlement. A serious one for his sake.
If discovery is granted and subsequently, key players begin getting deposed, well, we know what that end game is. And of course, that can take a while.
I don't think we shall travel too far down that decadent road due to the possible existence of many, many, many dirty sheets in Dimon's laundry basket. That said, if we do go to trial, I'd say Weil & Company are gonna drag him thru the streets of Baghdad.
And in regard to settlement, I think JPM will try to delay if they are not serious about settling. That said, I think they will settle to save their own arse. (My idea of a serious settlement is one done expeditiously, not one that drags and drags and drags.)
One issue that gets me is if they are prepared to settle, why contest the 4billion? What would be the purpose of that if you are ready and willing to make a settlement. They have to know in their heart of hearts they are gonna have to pony up more than 4bil. This is why I think they are gonna delay until they can't delay any longer. They have no case but will try to thwart Weil thru delay tactics, which won't work in the end.
Maybe a valid reason not to give back the 4 bil yet is to prop up their earnings with smoke and mirrors...wamu's 4 bil + lehman's 17 bil = substantial earnings for their constituents. If that's the only reason to hold the money to bide time to make themselves look good financially. Okay. I get that. But that's still a delay tactic and they will eventually have to acquiesce in this game.
I hope for a speedy settlement. I hope that Judge Walrath does too. But it could be later in the year bc of Dimon. The gov't might have to LEAN on Dimon a little bit to make him move faster in this play.
Mr. Dimon, the noose is tightening.
Time will tell.
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