CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Treasury Stock	Non-controlling Interest
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2009	$ 579,695	$ 27	$ 539,792	$ 100,002	$ 21,094	$ (78,272)	$ (2,948)
Beginning balance, treasury shares at Dec. 31, 2009						4,425,000
Beginning balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2009		27,020,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Changes in ownership of noncontrolling interest	8,468						8,468
Stock-based compensation expense, value	4,678		4,678
Exercise of restricted stock units, shares		4,000
Exercise of restricted stock unit, value	(2,086)		(2,086)
Exercise of restricted stock unit, shares		93,000
Income tax deficiencies on stock-based compensation	(448)		(448)
Disposition of treasury stock from deferred compensation plans, value	256		136			120
Disposition of treasury stock from deferred compensation plans, shares						(8,000)
Comprehensive loss:
Net loss	(14,072)			(11,172)			(2,900)
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax:
Unrealized gain on securities, net of deferred income tax and reclassification adjustments	(5,744)				(5,744)
Foreign currency translation	(23)				(23)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2010	570,724	27	542,072	88,830	15,327	(78,152)	2,620
Ending balance, treasury shares at Dec. 31, 2010						4,417,000
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2010		27,117,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Changes in ownership of noncontrolling interest	490						490
Stock-based compensation expense, value	4,536		4,536
Exercise of restricted stock units, shares		5,000
Comprehensive loss:
Net loss	(49,802)			(54,542)			4,740
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax:
Unrealized gain on securities, net of deferred income tax and reclassification adjustments	(15,427)				(15,427)
Foreign currency translation	(859)				(859)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2011	509,662	27	546,608	34,288	(959)	(78,152)	7,850
Ending balance, treasury shares at Dec. 31, 2011	4,417,000					4,417,000
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2011	22,705,000	27,122,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock-based compensation expense, value	3,873		3,873
Exercise of restricted stock units, value	(1,687)		(1,020)			(667)
Exercise of restricted stock units, shares		94,000
Exercise of restricted stock units, treasury shares						30,000
Retirement of PICO common stock, value	0	(1)	(22,870)			22,871
Retirement of PICO common stock, shares	(1,409,000)	(1,409,000)				(1,409,000)
Shares purchased for deferred compensation accounts, value	(645)
Shares purchased for deferred compensation accounts, shares	35,000
Comprehensive loss:
Net loss	(31,652)			(29,073)			(2,579)
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax:
Unrealized gain on securities, net of deferred income tax and reclassification adjustments	(226)				(226)
Foreign currency translation	(829)				(829)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 478,496	$ 26	$ 526,591	$ 5,215	$ (2,014)	$ (56,593)	$ 5,271
Ending balance, treasury shares at Dec. 31, 2012	3,073,000					3,073,000
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2012	22,734,000	25,807,000