This property has a documented history as a gasoline service station going back to 1948. 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.

The petroleum releases that contaminated this property originated from adjacent gas station operations predating 1986 — including a station at 6007 MLK Jr. Way active since at least 1948 and USTs that stored leaded gasoline, confirming decades of pre-1986 operations. Occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies issued to those adjacent operators during that era carried no effective pollution exclusion and remain enforceable. The investigation and monitoring costs already incurred at this site, and the remediation expenditures still ahead, represent potential claims against the historical carriers whose policies were in force when those releases first occurred.

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.