[SUTHERLAND ASBILL LOGO HERE] ATTORNEYS AT LAW 1275 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20004-2415 202.383.0100 fax 202.637.3593 www.sablaw.com STEPHEN E. ROTH DIRECT LINE: (202) 383-0138 Internet: sroth@sablaw.com Exhibit 13 September 1, 1999 Board of Directors Paragon Life Insurance Company 100 South Brentwood Boulevard St. Louis, Missouri 63105 Ladies and Gentlemen: We hereby consent to the reference to our name under the caption "Legal Matters" in the Prospectus filed as part of Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the registration statement on Form S-6 for Separate Account D of Paragon Life Insurance Company (File No. 333-80393). In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933. Very truly yours, SUTHERLAND ASBILL & BRENNAN LLP By: /s/ Stephen E. Roth --------------------------- Stephen E. Roth