This property has a documented history as a public works and maintenance facility going back to 1970. 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 contamination at this facility originated from underground storage tanks estimated to have been installed around 1970 — well before 1986, when occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies still carried no effective pollution exclusion. Documented remediation costs including tank removal, overexcavation, off-site soil disposal, and confirmatory sampling represent expenditures tied directly to those pre-1986 operations. Historical carriers who covered the facility during that window may be obligated both to recover past cleanup costs and to fund any remaining remediation work.

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.