This property has a documented history as a industrial and manufacturing facility going back to 1957. 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 dry well at this site discharged petroleum into the subsurface during industrial operations that began in 1957 — nearly three decades before 1986, when occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies still lacked effective pollution exclusions in Washington. Site investigation documents characterize the release as of "extreme age," placing its origin squarely within the window when pre-1986 carriers were issuing CGL coverage without adequate pollution carve-outs. The documented remediation costs — nearly 4,750 tons of soil removed, thousands of gallons of water treated, subsurface infrastructure installed, and continuing groundwater monitoring — represent expenditures that historical carriers may be obligated both to recover and to fund going forward.

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.