This property has a documented history as a gasoline service station 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 petroleum contamination at this Bainbridge Island property — benzene, xylenes, gasoline, and diesel-range hydrocarbons — originated from underground storage tanks installed and operated well before 1986, when occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies remained the industry standard and carried no effective pollution exclusion. Documented remediation expenditures here span two decades: the 1985 UST removals and the 2005 soil excavations tied to this site. Historical carriers whose policies were in force during those pre-1986 operations may still be obligated to fund the cleanup costs that remain.

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.