- Summarized financial information by segment (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Reconciliation of operating profit loss from segment to consolidated
Premiums earned	$ 127,188,280	$ 110,270,460	$ 247,685,532	$ 220,030,216
Underwriting profit (loss)	(2,733,781)	(15,351,172)	4,707,737	(6,955,477)
Net investment income (loss)	11,039,994	11,148,695	21,483,077	22,305,477
Realized investment gains (losses)	175,253	(1,138,336)	2,843,126	7,779,993
Other income	163,417	222,751	397,922	461,749
Interest expense	84,375	225,000	215,625	450,000
Other expenses	611,853	168,742	758,618	755,259
Income (loss) before income tax expense (benefit)	7,948,655	(5,511,804)	28,457,619	22,386,483
Reconciliation of assets from segment to consolidated
Assets	1,698,025,385		1,698,025,385		1,687,063,626
Eliminations	(391,491,544)		(391,491,544)		(396,288,097)
Reclassifications	(6,658,627)		(6,658,627)		(66,423)
Total assets	1,299,875,214		1,299,875,214		1,290,709,106
Property and casualty insurance [Member]
Reconciliation of operating profit loss from segment to consolidated
Premiums earned	97,816,887	87,825,285	190,521,905	172,856,675
Underwriting profit (loss)	(10,424,914)	(15,391,481)	(7,808,109)	(13,491,459)
Net investment income (loss)	8,095,885	8,139,202	15,745,815	16,314,329
Realized investment gains (losses)	392,319	(752,888)	2,349,103	7,151,901
Other income	163,417	222,751	397,922	461,749
Interest expense	84,375	225,000	215,625	450,000
Other expenses	185,593	178,276	391,199	397,440
Income (loss) before income tax expense (benefit)	(2,043,261)	(8,185,692)	10,077,907	9,589,080
Reconciliation of assets from segment to consolidated
Assets	936,707,300		936,707,300		934,876,596
Eliminations	0		0		0
Reclassifications	0		0		0
Total assets	936,707,300		936,707,300		934,876,596
Reinsurance [Member]
Reconciliation of operating profit loss from segment to consolidated
Premiums earned	29,371,393	22,445,175	57,163,627	47,173,541
Underwriting profit (loss)	7,691,133	40,309	12,515,846	6,535,982
Net investment income (loss)	2,946,180	3,011,279	5,742,704	5,995,204
Realized investment gains (losses)	(217,066)	(385,448)	494,023	628,092
Other income	0	0	0	0
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Other expenses	101,062	(392,315)	(340,287)	(372,550)
Income (loss) before income tax expense (benefit)	10,319,185	3,058,455	19,092,860	13,531,828
Reconciliation of assets from segment to consolidated
Assets	357,488,107		357,488,107		350,867,500
Eliminations	0		0		0
Reclassifications	(6,658,627)		(6,658,627)		0
Total assets	350,829,480		350,829,480		350,867,500
Parent company [Member]
Reconciliation of operating profit loss from segment to consolidated
Premiums earned	0	0	0	0
Underwriting profit (loss)	0	0	0	0
Net investment income (loss)	(2,071)	(1,786)	(5,442)	(4,056)
Realized investment gains (losses)	0	0	0	0
Other income	0	0	0	0
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Other expenses	325,198	382,781	707,706	730,369
Income (loss) before income tax expense (benefit)	(327,269)	(384,567)	(713,148)	(734,425)
Reconciliation of assets from segment to consolidated
Assets	403,829,978		403,829,978		401,319,530
Eliminations	(391,491,544)		(391,491,544)		(396,288,097)
Reclassifications	0		0		(66,423)
Total assets	$ 12,338,434		$ 12,338,434		$ 4,965,010