This property has a documented history as a property with a heating oil tank going back to 1950. Historical insurance policies issued during those prior operations and through 1986 could fund a cleanup — and recover costs already spent.

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.

The heating oil UST at this Seattle residence was in operation for decades before 1986, the last year occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies were routinely issued without effective pollution exclusions. The diesel contamination found in the soil and groundwater here is a slow release tied directly to that pre-1986 operational period. Documented remediation costs — UST removal, excavation of more than 822 tons of impacted soil, groundwater recovery, and regulatory oversight — represent expenditures that historical CGL carriers whose policies were in force during the tank's operational life may be obligated both to recover and to fund as the cleanup continues.

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.