Washington Insurance Commissioner Richard G. Marquardt rejected...

Washington Insurance Commissioner Richard G. Marquardt rejected a proposed hostile takeover of Los Angeles-based Farmers Group by Batus Inc. Marquardt found that Batus, the U.S. arm of British tobacco conglomerate BAT Industries, might end Farmers’ nonsmoking discounts on its insurance premiums. He also ruled that Batus might discontinue Farmers’ hospital medical malpractice business. Washington becomes the fourth state to disapprove the deal; only Arizona’s insurance department has given its assent.