This property has a documented history as a public works and maintenance facility going back to 1936. 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.

Diesel contamination at this property originated from an underground storage tank that was installed and operated for over two decades before 1986, during the era when occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies carried no effective pollution exclusion. The documented remediation costs — tank removal, soil excavation, off-site disposal, and years of regulatory oversight — trace directly to that pre-1986 operational period. Historical carriers who covered the City's operations during that window may be obligated to recover costs already incurred and to fund the additional cleanup work the site still requires.

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.