This property has a documented history as a dry cleaning facility 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.

Dry cleaning at this property was well underway before 1986, when occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies were still the industry standard and contained no effective pollution exclusion. The 1991 EPA-supervised removal of drums, sludge, and contaminated soil represents documented remediation expenditures that historical carriers whose policies were in force during those dry cleaning operations may be obligated to recover. With interim and final soil and groundwater remediation still ahead, those same pre-1986 policies may also be obligated to fund the prospective costs of completing the cleanup.

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.