This property has a documented history as a auto body / repair shop predating 1986. 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.

Aircraft paint-stripping operations involving lead-based coatings and chlorinated solvents were standard industrial practice well before 1986, when occurrence-based CGL policies were the norm and carried no effective pollution exclusion. The contamination here — lead and chlorinated solvents deposited through repeated, uncontained stripping work — is characteristic of a slow, cumulative release tied to pre-1986 operations rather than any single incident. Historical carriers who issued CGL policies during that operational window may be obligated to fund the investigation and remediation costs the property now faces.

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.