Wamu appeals to court to investigate Fed and Treasury over 2008 collapse

Washington Mutual request federal court to oblige US Federal Reserve, US Treasury and more than a dozen others to turn over documents relating to its collapse in 2008.

This suit in bankruptcy court on Monday is bankrupt holding company’s move to investigate discussions between JPMorgan & Chase Co, regulators, competitors and rating agencies it considered led to the arrest of Washington Mutual.

According to the filing, alleged misconduct includes JPMorgan "disclosing confidential information, in violation of the confidentiality agreement, to government regulators, ratings agencies, media and investors in an effort to harm WMI by driving down WMI's credit rating and stock price."

Wamu claims it needs to determine if it has valuable claims against regulators and others that could be pursued on behalf of its creditors.

The company has been probing possible claims against JPMorgan since the middle of 2009 and cited some of the documents provided by the bank to justify expanding its investigation.

The claim to expand its investigation also relies on information from a suit filed by American National Insurance Co, which is suing JPMorgan for its losses on its investments in Washington Mutual securities.