Judge Approves $218 Million JPMorgan Settlement for Bank’s Role in Bernard Madoff Ponzi Scheme

A New York federal judge approved Friday JPMorgan Chase’s $218 million class-action settlement over its role in Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi scheme.

Judge Colleen McMahon said the deal with Madoff’s customers meets the standards for final approval and provides “substantial and immediate” benefits to his victims. The judge also awarded $18 million in legal fees to the law firms representing the plaintiffs.

JPMorgan, Madoff’s primary bank for more than 20 years, has agreed to pay a total of $2.25 billion to Madoff-related cases, including a $1.7 billion civil settlement with the U.S. government and $325 million settlement with Irving Picard, the trustee liquidating Madoff’s former company, Reuters reports.

Madoff, who lost an estimated $17.3 billion of customers’ investments, is serving a 150-year prison term.

[Reuters]