This property has a documented history as a dry cleaning facility going back to 1932. 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.

Dry cleaning operations at this property began in 1932 — more than five decades before 1986 — and the Stoddard-solvent contamination documented in the soil is directly tied to those pre-1986 operations. Occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies were the industry standard throughout the facility's entire operational life, and Washington's pre-1986 policies carried no effective pollution exclusion. The documented remediation expenditures — including thermal treatment of over 700 tons of contaminated soil — represent costs that historical carriers whose policies were in force during those dry cleaning years 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.