This property has a documented history as a dry cleaning facility going back to 1958. 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.

Dry cleaning operations at this property began in 1958, nearly three decades before 1986, when occurrence-based CGL policies were the industry standard and carried no effective pollution exclusion in Washington. The PCE contamination found in soil and groundwater here — traced to past management and historical operational releases — is the type of slow, diffuse release those pre-1986 policies were written to cover. Investigation and remediation costs now facing this property could be funded or recovered from historical carriers whose policies were in force during the decades of dry cleaning operations prior to 1986.

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.