This property has a documented history as a dry cleaning facility going back to 1917. 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 solvent contamination at this property traces directly to tank operations at the New Richmond Laundry that began decades before 1986, when occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies were still the industry standard and carried no effective pollution exclusion. The documented remediation here — UST removals, soil excavation, groundwater management, and continued closure activities — represents costs incurred from releases tied to those pre-1986 laundry operations. Historical carriers who issued CGL coverage during the Laundry's operational years may be obligated both to recover the expenditures already incurred and to fund the remediation that lies ahead.

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.