Goldsmith Loses Washington Ruling: A federal judge...

Goldsmith Loses Washington Ruling: A federal judge has denied Sir James Goldsmith’s attempt to block Washington state insurance regulators from reviewing his bid to buy B.A.T. Industries PLC, parent of Farmer’s Group Inc., citing constitutional protections. Judge Robert Bryan rejected Goldsmith’s request for a preliminary injunction, thereby refusing to strike down Washington’s right to approve or deny the transaction. Washington is one of nine states in which Goldsmith has filed federal lawsuits attempting to prevent state regulatory reviews of the proposed hostile takeover.