This property has a documented history as a dry cleaning facility predating 1986. 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 1989 PCE release at this shopping mall dry cleaner — documented as a dry cleaning waste emission from Red Carpet Cleaners' own operations — is the kind of slow solvent discharge that CGL policies issued to commercial tenants of that era were written to cover. The vapor intrusion pathway now requiring active suppression via an installed SSDS, combined with excavation, investigation, and years of ongoing monitoring, represents a documented remediation cost trail tied directly to that release. Historical carriers who issued CGL policies to the dry cleaning operator during the years PCE was in active use at this site may still be obligated to fund those cleanup expenditures.

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.