This property has a documented history as a gasoline service station going back to 1956. Historical insurance policies issued during operations at this property and through 1986 could fund a cleanup.

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.

Fuel dispensing and automotive service operations at this address began in 1956 — three decades before 1986, when occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies were the industry standard and contained no effective pollution exclusion in Washington. The contamination now documented in soil vapor is attributed to historical releases tied directly to those pre-1986 operations. The investigation and remediation costs the current property owner faces could plausibly be recovered from historical carriers whose policies were in force during the years the contamination originated.

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.