JPMorgan $13 Billion Accord Would Join Largest U.S. Pacts

JPMorgan Chase & Co. is preparing to pay $13 billion to end U.S. civil probes of its mortgage-bond sales, an amount that ranks among the largest settlements by a single company and dwarfs fines previously imposed by the Justice Department. Past accords include:

-- The $246 billion settlement by the biggest U.S. tobacco companies in 1998 to resolve state government claims for the costs of treating sick smokers. Philip Morris Cos. and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Holdings Inc. were among firms that reached agreement with 50 state attorneys general to pay out the money over 25 years, scale back marketing and take steps to reduce youth smoking.