This property has a documented history as a dry cleaning facility predating 1986. Historical insurance policies issued during those prior operations and through 1986 could fund a cleanup.

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.

PCE contamination at this property was already a documented, long-standing release by 2001, consistent with dry cleaning operations that almost certainly began well before 1986 — the threshold year after which Commercial General Liability policies routinely incorporated effective pollution exclusions. The confirmed migration of that contamination into a neighboring property extends the liability exposure beyond Best Cleaners' own lot line. Historical CGL carriers who issued occurrence-based policies to this dry cleaning operation during the pre-1986 period may be obligated to fund both the on-site natural attenuation remedy and any cleanup costs attributable to off-site vapor intrusion impacts.

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.