This property has a documented history as a dry cleaning facility going back to 1964. 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.

The PCE and TCE contamination at this property originated from dry cleaning operations that ran for more than a decade before 1986, when occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies were still standard and carried no effective pollution exclusion. Historical carriers who issued CGL policies to Magic Cleaners or the property owner during the 1964–1977 operational window may remain obligated to fund the investigation and cleanup costs this site now faces. With MTCA cleanup levels already exceeded in soil and no active remediation commenced, the bulk of remediation expenditures lie ahead — making pre-1986 policy recovery a consequential avenue to explore.

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.