This property has a documented history as a gasoline service station going back to 1963. 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.

Petroleum contamination at this property originated from fueling infrastructure — underground storage tanks and dispensing equipment — installed and operated continuously since 1963, more than two decades before occurrence-based CGL policies gave way to claims-made forms with pollution exclusions. The documented remediation expenditures — soil excavation, groundwater extraction, and years of monitoring — were incurred to address releases tied directly to those pre-1986 operations. Historical carriers who issued CGL policies during the 1963-to-1986 operational window may be obligated both to recover costs already spent and to fund any remaining cleanup obligations.

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.