This property has a documented history as a gasoline service station going back to 1938. 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.

Gasoline dispensing operations at this property began in 1938 and continued for nearly five decades before the 1986 shift away from occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies. The confirmed presence of lead as a contaminant is itself a marker of pre-1986 petroleum operations, when leaded gasoline was still in retail use. The tank removals and soil excavation completed to date represent only a partial response, and the costs of the remaining remediation lie ahead of the property owner. Historical CGL carriers whose policies covered this site during those decades of operation may be obligated to fund that forthcoming cleanup work.

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.