Income Taxes (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011
Reconciliation of Company's effective tax rate from federal statutory rate
Federal tax (benefit) provision at statutory rate	$ 93,694	$ 39,530	$ (10,278)
State taxes, net of federal benefit	11,363	4,711	(954)
Reversal of accrual for uncertain tax positions	(5,580)	(34,167)	(52,306)
Accrued interest on anticipated tax assessments	3,704	5,000	3,055
Increase in unrecognized tax benefits		5,489
Increase in deferred tax assets-net	(4,914)		(25,948)
Income tax rate reconciliation Increase in deferred tax valuation allowance	3,232		43,876
Valuation allowance - reversed	(4,569)	(394,718)	(25,689)
Other	161	(49)	(917)
Income tax provision (benefit)	$ 97,091	$ (374,204)	$ (69,161)
Federal tax (benefit) provision at statutory rate, percentage	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
State taxes net of federal benefit, percentage	4.20%	4.20%	3.20%
Reversal of accrual for uncertain tax positions, percentage	(2.10%)	(30.30%)	178.10%
Accrued interest on anticipated tax assessments, percentage	1.40%	4.40%	(10.40%)
Increase in unrecognized tax benefits, percentage	0.00%	4.90%	0.00%
Increase in deferred tax assets-net, percentage	(1.80%)	0.00%	88.40%
Effective income tax rate reconciliation increase in valuation allowance, percentage	1.20%	0.00%	(149.40%)
Valuation allowance - reversed, percentage	(1.70%)	(349.50%)	87.50%
Other, percentage	0.10%	0.00%	3.10%
Tax provision (benefit), percentage	36.30%	(331.30%)	235.50%