This property has a documented history as a auto body / repair shop predating 1986. 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 gasoline release at Cornforth Campbell Collision is documented as a historical discharge from a former UST system, placing its origin in the era when occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies covered auto body operations in Puyallup without effective pollution exclusions. The PLIA Technical Assistance Program's expected involvement in upcoming cleanup phases confirms that the remediation trajectory here is substantial — design, construction, and monitoring costs lie ahead on top of the removal work already completed. Historical CGL carriers whose policies were in force during those pre-1986 auto body operations may be obligated to fund a share of that forward-looking liability.

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.