Segment Reporting (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified							3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended				3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Jun. 30, 2012 Portfolio Asset Acquisition and Resolution	Jun. 30, 2011 Portfolio Asset Acquisition and Resolution	Jun. 30, 2012 Portfolio Asset Acquisition and Resolution	Jun. 30, 2011 Portfolio Asset Acquisition and Resolution	Jun. 30, 2012 Special Situations Platform	Dec. 31, 2011 Special Situations Platform	Jun. 30, 2012 Domestic Portfolio Asset Acquisition and Resolution	Jun. 30, 2011 Domestic Portfolio Asset Acquisition and Resolution	Jun. 30, 2012 Domestic Portfolio Asset Acquisition and Resolution	Jun. 30, 2011 Domestic Portfolio Asset Acquisition and Resolution	Dec. 31, 2011 Domestic Portfolio Asset Acquisition and Resolution	Jun. 30, 2012 Latin America Portfolio Asset Acquisition and Resolution	Jun. 30, 2011 Latin America Portfolio Asset Acquisition and Resolution	Jun. 30, 2012 Latin America Portfolio Asset Acquisition and Resolution	Jun. 30, 2011 Latin America Portfolio Asset Acquisition and Resolution	Dec. 31, 2011 Latin America Portfolio Asset Acquisition and Resolution	Jun. 30, 2012 Europe Portfolio Asset Acquisition and Resolution	Jun. 30, 2011 Europe Portfolio Asset Acquisition and Resolution	Jun. 30, 2012 Europe Portfolio Asset Acquisition and Resolution	Jun. 30, 2011 Europe Portfolio Asset Acquisition and Resolution	Dec. 31, 2011 Europe Portfolio Asset Acquisition and Resolution
Segment reporting
Revenues, equity income (loss) of unconsolidated subsidiaries and other income							$ 13,652	$ 16,208	$ 35,358	$ 36,476			$ 10,605	$ 9,836	$ 27,520	$ 20,288		$ 1,670	$ 3,364	$ 3,755	$ 5,715		$ 1,377	$ 3,008	$ 4,083	$ 10,473
Total assets for each segment and a reconciliation to total assets
Cash and cash equivalents	33,039		34,802		31,922	46,597
Restricted cash	1,250		1,229
Other non-earning assets, net	10,764		11,628
Total Assets	$ 303,392	[1]	$ 356,346	[1]							$ 42,477	$ 51,099	$ 166,253		$ 166,253		$ 199,093	$ 17,130		$ 17,130		$ 17,048	$ 32,479		$ 32,479		$ 41,447

[1] Our consolidated assets at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 include the following assets of certain variable interest entities ("VIEs") that can only be used to settle the liabilities of those VIEs: Cash and cash equivalents, $18.5 million and $20.4 million; Portfolio Assets, $68.9 million and $98.4 million; Loans receivable, $39.3 million and $45.7 million; Equity investments, $41.5 million and $51.7 million; various other assets, $37.8 million and $35.9 million; and Total assets, $206.0 million and $252.2 million, respectively.