This property has a documented history as a auto body / repair shop going back to 1920. Historical insurance policies issued during those prior operations 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 and cPAH contamination at this property originated from bus maintenance and auto repair operations conducted decades before 1986, when occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies carried no effective pollution exclusion. The 2015 remediation alone — six UST removals and the excavation of 6,775 tons of contaminated soil — represents substantial costs already incurred that historical carriers whose policies were in force during the pre-1986 operational period may be obligated to recover. With cleanup still underway, those same policies may also be called upon to fund the work that remains before the site reaches closure.

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.