EXHIBIT 5

                              HARTMAN & CRAVEN LLP
                                 460 Park Avenue
                            New York, New York 10022

                                October 30, 1997


American Claims Evaluation, Inc.
One Jericho Plaza
Jericho, New York  11753

              Re:          1997 Stock Incentive Plan
                           -------------------------

Dear Sirs:

              We are acting as counsel to American Claims Evaluation, Inc., a
New York corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the preparation and
filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") of a
Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"). The Registration Statement
relates to 750,000 shares of the Company's common stock, $0.01 par value per
share ("Common Stock"), which are to be issued pursuant to the Company's 1997
Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan"). The shares of Common Stock which are to be
issued pursuant to the Plan are hereinafter referred to as the "Shares".

              In connection with this opinion, we have examined and relied upon
copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction of: (i) the Plan;
(ii) the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, as amended and By-laws, as
amended; and (iii) the minute books and other records of corporate proceedings
of the Company, as made available to us by officers of the Company; and have
reviewed such matters of law as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the
purpose of rendering this opinion.

              For purposes of this opinion we have assumed the authenticity of
all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to originals of all
documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies, and the
authenticity of the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies. We
have also assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons, the genuineness of
all signatures on all documents examined by us, the authority of such persons
signing on behalf of the parties thereto other than the Company and the due
authorization, execution and delivery of all documents by the parties thereto
other than the Company. As to certain factual matters material to the opinion
expressed herein, we have relied to the extent we deemed proper upon
representations, warranties and statements as to factual matters of officers and
other representatives of the Company. Our opinion expressed below is subject to
the qualification that we express no opinion as to any law other







than the laws of the State of New York and the federal laws of the United States
of America. Without limiting the foregoing, we express no opinion with respect
to the applicability thereto or effect of municipal laws or the rules,
regulations or orders of any municipal agencies within any such state.

              Based upon and subject to the foregoing qualifications,
assumptions and limitations and the further limitations set forth below, it is
our opinion that the Shares to be issued by the Company pursuant to the Plan
have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance and, when certificates for
the Shares have been duly executed by the Company, countersigned by a transfer
agent, duly registered by a registrar for the Shares and issued and paid for in
accordance with the terms of the Plan, the Shares will be validly issued, fully
paid and non-assessable.

              This opinion is limited to the specific issues addressed herein,
and no opinion may be inferred or implied beyond that expressly stated herein.
We assume no obligation to revise or supplement this opinion should the present
laws of the State of New York or the federal laws of the United States of
America be changed by legislative action, judicial decision or otherwise.

              We hereby consent to the filing of this letter as an exhibit to
the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not admit that we are
in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act
or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

              This opinion is furnished to you in connection with the filing of
the Registration Statement and is not to be used, circulated, quoted or
otherwise relied upon for any other purpose.

                                                     Very truly yours,

                                                     /s/ HARTMAN & CRAVEN LLP


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