                  UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                       FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT


                       ____________________

                           No. 97-30144
                       ____________________


                        NME HOSPITALS, INC.

                                                 Plaintiff-Appellant,

                              versus

                     AMERICAN CASUALTY COMPANY
                      OF READING, PENNSYLVANIA

                                                 Defendant-Appellee.

         _______________________________________________

           Appeal from the United States District Court
               for the Eastern District of Louisiana
                            New Orleans
                           (96-CV-998-K)
         _______________________________________________
                         November 14, 1997
Before JOLLY, DAVIS, and BARKSDALE, Circuit Judges:

PER CURIAM:*

     AFFIRMED.   See Local Rule 47.6.




     *
          Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the Court has determined
that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent
except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR. R.
47.5.4.
