This property has a documented history as a auto body / repair shop going back to 1940. 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 contamination here originated from automotive waste disposal that occurred between the 1940s and mid-1970s — well before 1986, when occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies were the industry standard and lacked effective pollution exclusions. Historical CGL carriers who covered the responsible auto repair and towing operations during that window may be obligated both to recover the documented remediation costs already incurred — including excavation and disposal of 14,300 cubic yards of waste — and to fund any additional investigation, monitoring, or corrective work required to reach regulatory closure. The site's open 'Cleanup Started' status means those future obligations remain live.

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.