This property has a documented history as a auto body / repair shop predating 1986. Historical insurance policies issued during those prior operations and through 1986 could fund a cleanup.
The Hibbard Residential Property in Tacoma has been held by two generations of the same family since the 1920s, with a shed on the property used historically for automotive storage and repair, including a grease pit. Gasoline and BTEX contamination was discovered beneath the shed in 2013 during demolition, when excavation uncovered a vault, visibly contaminated soils, and underground piping. Cleanup activities have included soil excavation, backfilling, and temporary covering of disturbed areas with plastic sheeting, with the City indicating intent to install a domed clay-soil cap over the contaminated zones; investigation and redevelopment activities have continued through 2024. That history could support an insurance cost recovery claim against carriers who issued insurance policies 40+ years ago.
Why Historical Insurance Policies May Be Accessible
Pre-1986 Commercial General Liability (CGL) policies were occurrence-based and did not contain an effective pollution exclusion in Washington. If contamination occurred while those policies were active, those historical insurance carriers may still have a legal obligation to fund the cleanup costs, even if the business closed or the property changed hands.
Automotive repair and storage at this residential parcel traces back across two generations of family ownership beginning in the 1920s, meaning the contamination's origin is tied to decades of pre-1986 activity on what was a private residential lot. The grease pit beneath the family shed is a physical record of long-term, ongoing automotive maintenance — exactly the kind of multi-decade operational history that fell within the coverage window of liability policies issued before 1986. Any homeowner or umbrella policies held by the Hibbard family during that generational period may carry enforceable obligations to fund the excavation, capping, and investigation costs the property now faces.
Restorical's role is to locate viable historical policies, determine whether a successful coverage claim is possible, and assist our clients and their legal counsel to obtain insurance coverage. Restorical then manages the claim, including accounting, to ensure the cleanup is funded in a timely manner.
What We Look For
- Historical insurance policies (pre-1986)
- Policy numbers, carrier names, and coverage periods
- Connection between contamination timing and policy period
- Evidence linking cleanup obligation to insured activity
What We Deliver
- Historical Coverage Chart
- Trigger Analysis & Property/Policy Nexus
- Coverage strategy with recommendations
- Insurance funding for your remediation
- Claims Management & Forensic Accounting
The Restorical Proven Process
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Contact UsThis analysis is preliminary and based on publicly available records. Restorical Research is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice.
