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.

Contamination at this property — used oil, petroleum hydrocarbons, and lead — is characteristic of auto wrecking operations that generated and accumulated those substances well before 1986, the year effective pollution exclusions became standard in Commercial General Liability policies. Lead in particular is a marker for the era of leaded gasoline and pre-phase-out vehicle components, tying the contamination origin directly to the pre-1986 operational window. The investigation and remediation costs now facing this property could plausibly be funded by historical carriers whose occurrence-based CGL policies were in effect when that contamination first accumulated.

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.