Businessman Warren Anderson has lost his 14-year legal battle with the state government to recoup $50 million, plus interest, that his company sunk into a WA Inc deal. Mr Anderson’s private company Tipperary Developments deposited the funds into Laurie Connell’s merchant bank Rothwells in 1988 before it collapsed. Attorney general Jim McGinty revealed the state’s possible liability was estimated to be between $80 million and $100 million given rising interest costs, if the Supreme Court ruled against the government. Mr Anderson is preparing an appeal that will likely centre on him having been assured by then-WA premier Peter Dowding that the $50 million would be repaid.