This property has a documented history as a dry cleaning facility going back to 1983. 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.

Dry cleaning operations using PCE were conducted at this address in the years immediately before 1986, when occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies were still the industry standard in Washington and contained no effective pollution exclusion. With groundwater contamination confirmed and active remediation not yet underway, the property owner faces the full cost of designing and executing a cleanup. Pre-1986 CGL policies issued to the dry cleaning operators during that window may be the most viable avenue for funding that forthcoming remediation work.

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.