This property has a documented history as a auto body / repair shop going back to 1975. Historical insurance policies issued during operations at this property and through 1986 could fund a cleanup.
The Dirks Truck Repair facility in Lakewood has operated as a commercial truck repair shop since at least 1975, when its garage and office building were first constructed, with services including engine repair and pressure washing of trucks and engine parts. Industrial wash water from those operations was discharged to an on-site leach field, the practice identified as the source of contamination at the property. Source-control measures have included ceasing wash water discharge to the leach field, halting pressure wash operations, removing downspout water connections, and requiring proper designation of all shop waste. The site entered the Voluntary Cleanup Program in 2010, but that engagement was terminated in 2015 due to stalled progress, and no active remediation has yet commenced. That history could support an insurance cost recovery claim against carriers who issued insurance policies 40+ years ago.
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.
Truck repair operations at this property began in 1975 — more than a decade before 1986, when occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies were still the industry standard and lacked effective pollution exclusions in Washington. The contamination here is attributed to wash water from engine repair and pressure washing activities conducted under those pre-1986 operating conditions. Source control has begun, but the full cost of investigating and cleaning up this site still lies ahead. Historical CGL carriers whose policies were in force during the facility's early years may be obligated to fund those upcoming cleanup costs.
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.
What We Look For
- Historical insurance policies (pre-1986)
- Policy numbers, carrier names, and coverage periods
- Connection between contamination timing and policy period
- Evidence linking cleanup obligation to insured activity
What We Deliver
- Historical Coverage Chart
- Trigger Analysis & Property/Policy Nexus
- Coverage strategy with recommendations
- Insurance funding for your remediation
- Claims Management & Forensic Accounting
The Restorical Proven Process
Ready to learn more?
Contact UsThis analysis is preliminary and based on publicly available records. Restorical Research is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice.
