This property has a documented history as a gasoline service station going back to 1981. Historical insurance policies issued during operations at this property 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 gasoline release at this property originated from underground storage tanks installed in 1981, five years before occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies gave way to claims-made forms with absolute pollution exclusions. Remediation costs have accumulated over nearly three decades — soil excavation, groundwater recovery, in-situ bioremediation, and long-term monitoring — with cleanup still underway and additional expenditures ahead. Historical carriers who issued CGL policies covering this facility during the early 1980s may be obligated both to reimburse past remediation costs and to fund the remaining cleanup work.

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.