This property has a documented history as a gasoline service station 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.

Gasoline contamination at this property traces directly to service station operations that ran from 1958 to 1975 — nearly two decades before occurrence-based CGL policies gave way to claims-made forms with pollution exclusions. The presence of dissolved lead and EDB in groundwater confirms a release of leaded gasoline consistent with that pre-1986 operational period. Historical carriers who covered the service station operator during those years may be obligated both to recover remediation costs already incurred and to fund the cleanup action plan still being developed.

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.