This property has a documented history as a dry cleaning facility going back to 1947. 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.

Both the gas station and dry cleaning operations at this property predate 1986 by at least fifteen years, placing them within the era when occurrence-based CGL policies were standard and carried no effective pollution exclusion in Washington. PCE groundwater concentrations at 1,700 µg/L and confirmed vapor intrusion into an adjacent structure reflect a contamination event of substantial scope and continuing, cross-boundary liability. The documented and prospective remediation costs — SVE installation and expansion, UST removal, soil excavation, groundwater treatment, and vapor intrusion controls — are expenditures that historical carriers whose policies were in force during the pre-1986 operational window may be obligated to fund.

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.