Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net (loss) income	$ (73,629)	$ (18,630)	$ 254,277
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax	(127,124)	(83,536)	150,658
Loss from sale of discontinued operations, net of tax	0	(18,985)	0
Income from continuing operations, net of tax	53,495	83,891	103,619
Adjustments to reconcile income from continuing operations to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	115,546	94,881	114,374
Provision for bad debt and claim losses	25,600	23,096	39,472
Share-based compensation	11,649	13,969	25,637
Equity in earnings of investee, net of taxes	(30,270)	(41,641)	(48,847)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	10,190	0	0
Deferred income tax	(16,203)	(6,149)	49,376
(Gain)/loss on investments and other, net	(60,005)	10,885	5,933
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Property Plant Equipment	(8,061)	0	0
Change in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Accounts receivable	(15,893)	(10,011)	32,711
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(17,540)	5,413	11,029
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(12,445)	4,122	(605)
Deferred revenue	(19,273)	(22,543)	(14,569)
Due to/from FAFC	(18,718)	13,278	(36,704)
Income tax accounts	86,994	(55,766)	(88,785)
Dividends recieved from investments in affiliates	42,929	64,603	89,528
Other assets and other liabilities	23,597	(13,883)	(31,516)
Net cash provided by operating activities - continuing operations	171,592	164,145	250,653
Net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities - discontinued operations	(10,655)	42,049	308,266
Total cash provided by operating activities	160,937	206,194	558,919
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of redeemable noncontrolling interests	(72,000)	(385,847)	0
Purchase of subsidiary shares from and other decreases in noncontrolling interests	0	(6,537)	(62,011)
Purchases of property and equipment	(45,215)	(52,610)	(31,887)
Purchases of capitalized data and other intangible assets	(27,009)	(24,814)	(25,506)
Cash paid for acquisition, net of cash acquired	(214,215)	(9,228)	(10,000)
Cash received from sale of discontinued operations	0	265,000	0
Purchases of investments	(26,898)	(27,284)	(10,008)
Proceeds from maturities of debt securities	0	371	12,623
Sale of subsidiary shares to and other increases in noncontrolling interests	28,054	0	12,347
Proceeds from Sale of Property, Plant, and Equipment	25,042	0	0
Proceeds from sale of investments	74,621	26,386	4,488
Issuance of notes receivable, net	0	(12,754)	0
Change in restricted cash	2,091	(21,095)	0
Net cash used in investing activities - continuing operations	(255,529)	(248,412)	(109,954)
Net cash used in investing activities - discontinued operations	(4,497)	(76,192)	(4,124)
Total cash used in investing activities	(260,026)	(324,604)	(114,078)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	858,154	843,524	50,782
Debt Issuance Costs	(22,810)	(14,776)	0
Repayments of long-term debt	(733,407)	(713,643)	(102,188)
Share repurchases	(176,512)	(30,171)	0
Proceeds from issuance of stock related to stock options and employee benefit plans	1,064	6,997	12,601
Distribution to noncontrolling interests	(4,835)	(27,800)	(31,525)
Cash dividends	0	(22,657)	(82,054)
Tax benefit related to stock options	363	3,423	768
Net cash (used in)/provided by financing activities - continuing operations	(77,983)	44,897	(151,616)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities - discontinued operations	71	29,087	(198,276)
Total cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(77,912)	73,984	(349,892)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(177,001)	(44,426)	94,949
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	426,212	459,519	283,119
Change in cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations	10,055	11,119	81,451
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	259,266	426,212	459,519
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest	57,851	37,631	38,124
Cash paid for income taxes, net	36,480	58,008	127,407
Cash refunds from income taxes	50,157	32,497	47,937
Non cash investing and financing activities:
Distribution of First American Financial Corporation ('FAFC') to stockholders	0	1,678,270	0
Adjustment of carrying value of mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interest	(3,800)	11,273	(125,883)
Company acquisitions in exchange for common stock	0	0	311,264
Tax impace of buy-in on noncontrolling interest	0	120,803	0
Note payable issued for the acquisition of affiliates	12,700	0	0
Promissory Note due to First American Financial Corporation (Note 12)	$ 0	$ 19,900	$ 0