This property has a documented history as a farm and agricultural operation going back to 1952. Historical insurance policies issued during operations at this property 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 contamination at this site is tied to historical use of hazardous substances and petroleum products in connection with decades of machinery repair and equipment washing — operations that were underway well before 1986, when occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies were the industry standard and carried no effective pollution exclusion. Because the release date is recorded as unknown, the contamination almost certainly began during the long pre-1986 operational period rather than from any recent incident. Carriers who issued CGL policies to the operators or property owners during that window may bear an ongoing obligation to fund a remediation program whose documented costs span more than two decades.

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.