SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                                 WASHINGTON, DC 20549
                                           
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                                       FORM 8-K
                                           
                                    CURRENT REPORT
                        PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                           SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
                                           
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Date of report (Date of earliest event reported) JUNE 17, 1997
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                           ZENITH NATIONAL INSURANCE CORP.
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                (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)


       DELAWARE                  1-9627                    95-2702776
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(State or Other Jurisdiction   (Commission               (IRS Employer
     of Incorporation)          File Number)           Identification No.)



 21255 CALIFA STREET, WOODLAND HILLS, CA                             91367-5021
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                             (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code (818) 713-1000
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            (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)



ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS.

         Zenith National Insurance Corp. (the "Company") issued a press 
release dated June 17, 1997, (a copy of which is attached as an exhibit 
hereto) announcing that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Zenith Insurance Company 
("Zenith"), has entered into an agreement with RISCORP, Inc. ("RISCORP").  
The key elements of the press release are summarized below:

         1.   Zenith has agreed to purchase all of the assets of RISCORP
related to its workers' compensation business, including RISCORP's existing
in-force insurance business as well as the right to all new and renewal
policies.  Zenith also agreed to purchase RISCORP's "First Call" managed care
workers' compensation system.  After the transaction closes, RISCORP will no
longer engage in the workers' compensation or managed care businesses.

         2.   Zenith will assume certain liabilities related to RISCORP's
insurance businesses in connection with the transaction, including $15,000,000
in indebtedness of RISCORP.  The purchase price paid by Zenith to RISCORP will
be the difference between the book value of the assets purchased and the book
value of the liabilities assumed by Zenith on the closing date, subject to a
minimum purchase price of $35 million.  The purchase price will be payable in
cash.

         3.   Zenith will finance the purchase with bank financing and internal
funds.

         4.   Zenith and RISCORP have also entered into an agreement under
which all new and renewal RISCORP policies issued after today (June 17, 1997)
will be reinsured by Zenith, an A.M. Best Company A+ (Superior) rated carrier,
until Zenith assumes such policies at the closing.

         5.   Zenith will not be purchasing the stock of RISCORP or its 
affiliates or (except as noted above) assuming the corporate liabilities of 
these companies, including liabilities related to any present or future 
litigation against those companies.

         6.   The closing of the purchase is subject to the review and approval
by appropriate state and federal regulatory agencies and by RISCORP's
shareholders.  The agreement has been approved by the Boards of Directors of
Zenith National Insurance Corp., Zenith, and RISCORP.

ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

         c.   Exhibits 

              Exhibit Number 99.  Press Release of Zenith National Insurance 
                                  Corp. dated June 17, 1997.



                                      SIGNATURE
                                           

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                  ZENITH NATIONAL INSURANCE CORP.



Dated: June 25, 1997                   By:  /s/ Fredricka Taubitz
                                            ---------------------------------
                                            Name: Fredricka Taubitz
                                            Title: Executive Vice President &
                                                   Chief Financial Officer