This property has a documented history as a public works and maintenance facility going back to 1931. 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.

Contamination at this site traces to fueling and vehicle-maintenance operations that began in the 1930s — more than five decades before occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies gave way to claims-made forms with absolute pollution exclusions. The multi-decade remediation record here, from UST removals in the mid-1980s through ongoing bioremediation well construction, documents a substantial and still-growing trail of cleanup expenditures. Historical carriers who issued CGL policies covering this facility during its pre-1986 operational window may be obligated both to reimburse past remediation costs and to fund the cleanup work that remains ahead.

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.