This property has a documented history as a public works and maintenance facility going back to 1966. 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 petroleum contamination at this facility traces to underground storage tanks and fuel infrastructure installed and operated by the City of Seattle beginning in 1966 — two decades before occurrence-based CGL policies began excluding pollution claims. The scale of documented remediation — tank and fuel-line removals, extensive soil excavation, years of vapor extraction — represents substantial cleanup expenditures tied directly to those pre-1986 operations. Historical carriers who provided coverage during the decades these tanks were in service may be obligated to reimburse past remediation costs and to fund the cleanup work that remains.

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.