This property has a documented history as a auto body / repair shop going back to 1959. Historical insurance policies issued during those prior operations 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.

The petroleum contamination at this property — gasoline, diesel, and waste oil released during decades of vehicle repair, towing, and wrecking operations — traces to activities that began in 1959, nearly three decades before 1986. Occurrence-based CGL policies issued to operators of auto wrecking and truck repair facilities in that era routinely carried no effective pollution exclusion under Washington law. The investigation and remediation costs the property owner now faces could plausibly be funded by historical carriers whose policies were in force when these underground releases first occurred.

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.