This property has a documented history as a dry cleaning facility going back to 1979. 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.

Dry cleaning operations at this property began in 1979, placing the originating PCE and TCE releases squarely within the period when occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies were issued without effective pollution exclusions. The chlorinated-solvent contamination confirmed in the soil beneath the former dry cleaning machines is the type of slow, ongoing release those pre-1986 policies were written to address. Investigation, soil excavation, and chemical injection costs already incurred — along with any remaining remediation and monitoring expenses — could plausibly be funded or recovered from historical carriers whose policies were in force when contamination first began.

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.