Exhibit 5


                                                                January 21, 1998


Symons International Group, Inc.
4720 Kingsway Drive
Indianapolis, Indiana 46205

Gentlemen:

     You have requested my opinion in connection with the Registration Statement
on Form S-8 (the "Registration  Statement") of Symons  International Group, Inc.
(the  "Corporation"),  relating to the offer and sale of up to 1,000,000  common
shares of the Corporation (the "Common  Shares") under the Symons  International
Group,  Inc.  1996 Stock  Option  Plan  approved by the  Corporation's  Board of
Directors on November 1, 1996, and by the Corporation's shareholders on November
1,  1996  (the  "Plan").  In  connection  with  your  request,  I have made such
examination  of the corporate  records and  proceedings of the  Corporation  and
considered  such  questions  of law and taken  such  further  action as I deemed
necessary or appropriate to enable me to render this opinion.

     Based  upon such  examination,  I am of the  opinion  that when the  Common
Shares have been  purchased  and the  purchase  price  therefor has been paid in
accordance  with the  Plan,  and  when the  Corporation  has  complied  with the
Securities  Act of  1933,  as  amended,  and  with  the  securities  laws of all
jurisdiction  in which Common  Shares are to be sold pursuant to the exercise of
stock options or stock  appreciation  rights  granted under the Plan, the Common
Shares will be legally issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

     I consent  to the filing of this  opinion as Exhibit 5 to the  Registration
Statement.  In giving  this  consent,  however,  I do not admit that I am in the
category of persons whose consent is required  under Section 7 of the Securities
Act of  1933  or the  Rules  and  Regulations  of the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission thereunder.

                                                      Very truly yours,


                                                      /s/ David L. Bates
                                                      Vice President, General
                                                      Counsel and Secretary


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