Exhibit 99.1

         ProAssurance Comments on Florida Malpractice Verdict


    BIRMINGHAM, Ala.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 4, 2006--A jury in Tampa
has awarded a total of $217 million in a medical malpractice case
against insureds of ProNational Insurance Company, a subsidiary of
ProAssurance Corporation. The jury awarded $117 million on September
29, 2006 and added $100 million in punitive damages on October 3,
2006. There is no claim outstanding against ProAssurance.

    There are many open legal issues still to be decided regarding
both the merits of the case and the availability of coverage to the
defendants. Based on similar cases, we believe it will be several
years before this case is ultimately resolved.

    We are currently evaluating the details of the case and we expect
to be able to discuss this issue in greater detail when we report our
third quarter results.

    About ProAssurance

    ProAssurance Corporation is the nation's fourth largest writer of
medical professional liability insurance through its principal
subsidiaries The Medical Assurance Company, Inc., ProNational
Insurance Company, NCRIC, Inc., PIC Wisconsin, and Red Mountain
Casualty Insurance Company, Inc. ProAssurance also writes professional
liability coverage through Woodbrook Casualty Insurance, Inc.

    Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

    This news release contains historical information as well as
forward-looking statements that are based upon our estimates and
anticipation of future events that are subject to certain risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to vary materially from
the expected results described in the forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements are identified by words such as, but not
limited to, "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "hope,"
"hopeful," "intend," "may," "optimistic," "preliminary," "project,"
"should," "will" and other analogous expressions. There are numerous
important factors that could cause our actual results to differ
materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Thus,
sentences and phrases that we use to convey our view of future events
and trends are expressly designated as forward-looking statements as
are sections of this news release clearly identified as giving our
outlook on future business.

    Forward-looking statements relating to our business include among
other things: statements concerning liquidity and capital
requirements, return on equity, financial ratios, net income,
premiums, losses and loss reserves, premium rates and retention of
current business, competition and market conditions, the expansion of
product lines, the development or acquisition of business in new
geographical areas, the availability of acceptable reinsurance,
actions by regulators and rating agencies, payment or performance of
obligations under indebtedness, payment of dividends, and other
matters.

    These forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks,
assumptions and uncertainties, including, among other things, the
following important factors that could affect the actual outcome of
future events:

    --  General economic conditions, either nationally or in our
        market area, that are worse than anticipated;

    --  regulatory and legislative actions or decisions that adversely
        affect our business plans or operations;

    --  price competition;

    --  inflation and changes in the interest rate environment;

    --  performance of financial markets and/or changes in the
        securities markets that adversely affect the fair value of our
        investments or operations;

    --  changes in laws or government regulations affecting medical
        professional liability insurance;

    --  changes to our ratings assigned by rating agencies;

    --  the effects of health care changes, including managed care;

    --  uncertainties inherent in the estimate of loss and loss
        adjustment expense reserves and reinsurance, and changes in
        the availability, cost, quality, or collectibility of
        reinsurance;

    --  significantly increased competition among insurance providers
        and related pricing weaknesses in some markets;

    --  our ability to achieve continued growth through expansion into
        other states or through acquisitions or business combinations;

    --  changes in accounting policies and practices that may be
        adopted by our regulatory agencies and the Financial
        Accounting Standards Board;

    --  changes in our organization, compensation and benefit plans;
        and

    --  any other factors listed or discussed in the reports we file
        with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the
        Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

    Specifically relating to the referenced case, Navarro vs. Austin:

    --  Post-trial motions may be denied, in whole or in part;

    --  any appeals that may be undertaken may be unsuccessful;

    --  we may be unsuccessful in our legal efforts to limit the scope
        of coverage available to our insureds for this verdict; and

    --  we may become a party to bad faith litigation over the amount
        of the judgment above our policy limits.

    Our results may differ materially from those we expect and discuss
in any forward-looking statements. The principal risk factors that may
cause these differences are described in various documents we file
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the
Registration Statement filed on February 15, 2006 and updated on June
2, 2006, as well as our most recent Forms 10K and 10Q.

    We wish to caution readers not to place undue reliance on any such
forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made, and
wish to advise readers that the factors listed above could affect our
financial performance and could cause actual results for future
periods to differ materially from any opinions or statements expressed
with respect to future periods in any current statements. We do not
undertake and specifically decline any obligation to publicly release
the result of any revisions that may be made to any forward-looking
statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such
statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or
unanticipated events.


    CONTACT: ProAssurance Corporation
             Sr. Vice President, Corporate Communications
             & Investor Relations
             Frank B. O'Neil, 800-282-6242 or 205-877-4461
             foneil@ProAssurance.com