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Business Combinations (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010
Business Combinations [Abstract] |  |
Gross premiums of excess and surplus renewal book of business purchased |  | $ 77,000,000
Increase in premiums written including potential impact of renewal book of business purchased | 6.00% |
Estimated value of business acquisition expected to close | 51,500,000 |
Inatagible assets purchased | 7,300,000 |
Indefinite intagible asset purchased | 4,200,000 |
Number of states which E&S subsidiary acquired operates | 50 |
Finite life intangible asset purchased | 2,500,000 |
Contract binding authority E&S business |  | 48,000,000
Intellectual proprety and infomration technology assets acquired | $ 3,600,000 |

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- Definition The amount of intellectual property and information technology assets purchase on the acquisition date. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The total estimated value of an acquisition, including the cash paid to shareholders of acquired entities, fair value of debt and equity securities issued to shareholders of acquired entities, and the fair value of the liabilities assumed. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition This item represents the gross premiums written related to the excess and surplus renewal book of business purchased + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition This item represents the gross premiums written related to the excess and surplus subsidiary acquired. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition This item represents the increase in net premiums written including the potential impact of the renewal book of business purchased. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The number of states in which our E&S subsidiary is authorized to write business in as of the balance sheet date. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The aggregate amount assigned to a major class of finite-lived intangible assets acquired either individually or as part of a group of assets (in either an asset acquisition or business combination). A major class is composed of intangible assets that can be grouped together because they are similar, either by their nature or by their use in the operations of a company. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 142 -Paragraph 44 -Subparagraph a(1) -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6905858&loc=d3e16265-109275 + Details
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- Definition The aggregate cost of a major indefinite-lived intangible asset class acquired, during the period, either individually or as part of a group of assets (in either an asset acquisition or business combination). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 142 -Paragraph 44 -Subparagraph b -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6905858&loc=d3e16265-109275 + Details
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- Definition The amount of identifiable intangible assets recognized as of the acquisition date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6910749&loc=d3e4845-128472 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141R -Paragraph 12, 13, 14, 20, A107 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141R -Paragraph 68 -Subparagraph i -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 10 -Section 55 -Paragraph 37 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6910123&loc=d3e2207-128464 + Details
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