Batus Inc. has sued Farmers Group in...

Batus Inc. has sued Farmers Group in U.S. District Court in Nevada, asking that the votes of 1.2 million shares owned by three Farmers affiliates not be counted in a non-binding shareholder resolution. Sponsored by Batus, which has launched a $4.3-billion hostile takeover bid for the Los Angeles-based insurer, the resolution asks Farmers’ board to reconsider its decision not to negotiate a merger with Batus. In a separate development, the Illinois Department of Insurance set June 6 as the opening date for hearings on the proposed acquisition. Similar hearings by the California Department of Insurance began Monday in Los Angeles and are expected to last through the week.