<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF MEDICAL ASSURANCE INC. FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED
MARCH 31, 2000 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-2000
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                           647,961
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                      58,199
<MORTGAGE>                                           0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                   11,177
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                 770,623
<CASH>                                          13,751
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                             182,933
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                               0<F1>
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,132,437
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                664,661
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                             86,140
<POLICY-OTHER>                                  34,800
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                      0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        25,103
<OTHER-SE>                                     308,639
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,132,437
<PREMIUMS>                                      37,276
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                              9,765
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                 378
<OTHER-INCOME>                                     505
<BENEFITS>                                      29,655
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                      3,984
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                             4,695
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  9,590
<INCOME-TAX>                                     1,895
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              7,695
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     7,695
<EPS-BASIC>                                        .33
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .33
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                 486,285
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                             39,655
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                              (10,000)
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                              (2,535)
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                               (31,676)
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                481,729
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                        (10,000)
<FN>
<F1>DEFERRED POLICY ACQUISITION COSTS ARE NOT SEPARATELY DISCLOSED IN THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS INCLUDED IN FORM 10K BECAUSE THE AMOUNTS ARE IMMATERIAL.
SUCH AMOUNTS ARE INCLUDED AS A COMPONENT OF OTHER ASSETS.
</FN>