This property has a documented history as a public works and maintenance facility going back to 1978. 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.

Petroleum contamination at this site originated from underground storage tanks installed in 1964 and 1978 — well before 1986, when occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies were still standard and carried no effective pollution exclusion in Washington. The multi-decade remediation effort documented here — tank removals, soil excavation, hazardous waste management, and years of assessment work — represents cleanup expenditures that historical carriers who covered the facility during its pre-1986 operations may be obligated both to recover and to fund going forward.

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.