May 20, 2005

Ms. Alicia G. Curran Burt Barr & Associates, L.L.P. P.O. Box 223667 Dallas, TX 75222-3667

Mr. Ethan L. Shaw Moore Landrey L.L.P. 390 Park Street, Suite 500 Beaumont, TX 77701

Mr. Keith T. Gilbert Gilbert & Maxwell P.O. Box 1984 Houston, TX 77251

Mr. Anthony Icenogle DeLeon Boggins & Icenogle, P.C. 221 West 6th Street, Suite 1050 Austin, TX 78701

Mr. Gerald L. Shiely Thornton Summers Biechlin Dunham & Brown 10100 Reunion Place, Suite 200 San Antonio, TX 78216

Mr. James Sowder Thompson Coe Cousins & Irons, LLP 700 N. Pearl Street, 25th Floor Dallas, TX 75201-2832

Mr. Paul K. Nesbitt Kelly Sutter & Kendrick 3050 Post Oak Blvd., Suite 200 Houston, TX 77056-6570

Mr. Scott Coleman Skelton Zeleskey Cornelius Hallmark Roper & Hicks P.O. Box 1728 Lufkin, TX 75902-1728

Ms. Veronica Carmona Czuchna Jordan & Carmona, P.C. 1801 S. Mopac Expressway, Suite 220 Austin, TX 78746-7576

Mr. Ernesto Gamez Jr. Law Offices of Ernesto Gamez, Jr. 777 E. Harrison Brownsville, TX 78520

Mr. James A. Holmes Wellborn Houston Adkison Mann Sadler & Hill P.O. Box 1109 Henderson, TX 75653-1109

Mr. R. Stephen Woodfin Law Ofice of Stephen Woodfin 1012 Houston St. Kilgore, TX 75662

Mr. Brett T. Reynolds Blakely & Reynolds 1250 Northeast Loop 410, Suite 420 San Antonio, TX 78209

Mr. James H. Hunter Jr. Royston Rayzor Vickery & Williams, L.L.P. P.O. Box 3509 Brownsville, TX 78523-3509

Mr. Kevin T. Crocker Jackson Walker, LLP 901 Main Street, Suite 6000 Dallas, TX 75202

Mr. Robert B. Wellenberger Thompson Coe Cousins & Irons, L.L.P. 700 N. Pearl Street, 25th Floor Dallas, TX 75201-2832

Mr. Wade Caven Crosnoe Thompson Coe Cousins & Irons, L.L.P. 701 Brazos, Suite 1500 Austin, TX 78701

RE: Case Number: 04-0775 Court of Appeals Number: 13-02-00354-CV Trial Court Number: 2001-12-5152-A

Style: ACE AMERICAN INSURANCE COMPANY, ET AL. v. EAST SIDE SURGICAL CENTER, INC., ET AL.

Dear Counsel:

Today, the Supreme Court of Texas granted the motion to abate in the above-referenced case. The case is abated until June 20, 2005. It is the responsibility of the parties to immediately notify this Court about any changes in status in the settlement proceedings. The Court's order of abatement is enclosed. Sincerely, [pic]

Andrew Weber, Clerk

by Gena Pelham, Deputy Clerk

Enclosure

|cc:|Ms. Cathy Wilborn | | |Ms. Aurora De La | | |Garza |