Exhibit 99.1

ProAssurance Comments on West Virginia Subsidiary

    BIRMINGHAM, Ala.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 19, 2003--ProAssurance
Corporation (NYSE: PRA) announced today that it will terminate an
inter-company reinsurance agreement that provided protection for its
West Virginia subsidiary. The cancellation of that agreement is
effective on January 1, 2004, and applies only to new and renewal
policies issued by Medical Assurance of West Virginia on or after that
date.
    Commenting on the decision, Chairman A. Derrill Crowe, M.D. said,
"Medical Assurance of West Virginia has $10 million in capital and
will meet the statutory tests for capital adequacy for new policies
with limits up to $1 million. I'd also like to emphasize that this
change has no effect on the consolidated financial results of
ProAssurance."
    ProAssurance President Victor T. Adamo said the decision doesn't
signal a change in ProAssurance's stance with respect to West
Virginia, which accounts for less than two percent of ProAssurance's
book of business. He explained, "We continue to provide coverage
through our West Virginia subsidiary, and will continue to evaluate
the medical/legal climate in the state."
    The former reinsurance agreement between Medical Assurance of West
Virginia and The Medical Assurance Company provided 100% reinsurance
of the West Virginia subsidiary. West Virginia regulators and
policyholders whose policies renew in January have been notified of
the decision. Notifications will be mailed shortly to policyholders
whose policies will expire in February through June. The Company is
reviewing proposals for a West Virginia-only reinsurance contract from
unaffiliated reinsurers, but cautioned that the coverage would likely
be expensive given the medical liability environment in West Virginia.
Policyholders will be notified if the additional coverage becomes
available.

    Rating Action

    A. M. Best and Standard & Poor's assign ratings of "A-" to
ProAssurance's subsidiaries, The Medical Assurance Company,
ProNational Insurance Company, and Red Mountain Casualty Insurance
Company. However, as a result of the impending cancellation of the
inter-company reinsurance agreement, Standard & Poor's has issued a
separate rating of "BB" for Medical Assurance of West Virginia. Given
the limited geographical market and small number of insureds served by
Medical Assurance of West Virginia, Standard & Poor's is withdrawing
its rating at the request of the Company. A. M. Best may also assign a
separate and lower rating to Medical Assurance of West Virginia as a
result of the reinsurance decision.

    About ProAssurance

    ProAssurance Corporation is a specialty insurer with more than
$2.8 billion in assets and more than $650 million in gross written
premiums. As the nation's fourth largest writer of medical
professional liability insurance, ProAssurance's subsidiaries, The
Medical Assurance Company, Inc., Medical Assurance of West Virginia,
Inc., ProNational Insurance Company, and Red Mountain Casualty
Insurance Company, Inc., are recognized leaders in their market.
ProAssurance is also the tenth largest writer of personal auto
coverage in Michigan through its subsidiary, MEEMIC Insurance Company.

    CONTACT: ProAssurance Corporation
             Frank B. O'Neil, 800-282-6242 or 205-877-4461
             foneil@ProAssurance.com