This property has a documented history as a dry cleaning facility 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 PCE contamination at this property — and its chain of degradation products — reflects a release that was already underway years before 1986, when occurrence-based CGL policies were the industry standard and lacked effective pollution exclusions in Washington. Pre-1986 carriers who issued policies to the dry cleaning operator during that window may be obligated both to contribute to the remediation expenditures already incurred through the soil remediation activities on record and to fund the cleanup work that remains in progress under the Voluntary Cleanup Program.

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.