Consolidated Statement of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Revenues [Abstract]
Net premiums earned	$ 32,556	$ 32,949	$ 98,996	$ 94,189
Service fee and commission income	8,023	6,330	21,458	17,046
Rental income	3,341	2,426	10,023	2,426
Net investment income	2,940	1,069	1,277	2,069
Net realized gains (losses)	1,976	46	3,108	(58)
Other income	3,166	3,005	8,796	8,170
Total revenues	52,002	45,825	143,658	123,842
Operating Expenses [Abstract]
Loss and loss adjustment expenses	29,368	26,804	83,246	75,139
Commissions and premium taxes	6,024	5,928	18,777	17,629
Cost of services sold	1,951	1,381	4,546	2,924
General and administrative expenses	10,912	9,949	33,564	30,326
Leased real estate segment interest expense	1,563	1,319	4,706	1,319
Amortization of intangible assets	286	779	866	1,381
Contingent consideration benefit	0	0	(212)	(657)
Impairment of intangible assets	0	0	250	0
Total operating expenses	50,104	46,160	145,743	128,061
Operating income (loss)	1,898	(335)	(2,085)	(4,219)
Other (revenues) expenses, net: [Abstract]
Interest expense not allocated to segments	1,261	1,129	3,636	3,330
Foreign exchange losses, net	(4)	(4)	(8)	(14)
Loss (gain) on change in fair value of debt	1,178	2,472	5,769	(1,124)
Gain on deconsolidation of subsidiary	0	5,643	0	5,643
Equity in net loss (income) of investees	897	61	(1,343)	1,004
Total other expenses (revenues), net	3,340	(1,977)	8,070	(2,419)
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income tax expense	(1,442)	1,642	(10,155)	(1,800)
Income tax expense	120	55	1,550	107
(Loss) income from continuing operations	(1,562)	1,587	(11,705)	(1,907)
Gain on disposal of discontinued operations, net of taxes	0	0	1,017	1,124
Net (loss) income	(1,562)	1,587	(10,688)	(783)
Less: net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	79	48	284	(352)
Less: dividends on preferred stock	(88)	110	156	274
Net (loss) income attributable to common shareholders	$ (1,553)	$ 1,429	$ (11,128)	$ (705)
Loss per share - continuing operations [Abstract]
Basic:	$ (0.07)	$ 0.07	$ (0.57)	$ (0.09)
Diluted:	(0.07)	0.06	(0.57)	(0.09)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations and Disposal of Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Basic and Diluted Share [Abstract]
Basic:	0.00	0.00	0.05	0.06
Diluted:	0.00	0.00	0.05	0.06
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Abstract]
Basic:	(0.07)	0.07	(0.52)	(0.04)
Diluted:	$ (0.07)	$ 0.06	$ (0.52)	$ (0.04)
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted [Abstract]
Basic:	21,559	19,843	21,492	19,791
Diluted:	21,559	22,958	21,492	19,791