This property has a documented history as a farm and agricultural operation 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 contamination sources at this property — a drum dump area, an unlined cattle dip tank, five unlined wastewater lagoons, and fueling infrastructure — were all in place and active during an era when occurrence-based CGL policies had no effective pollution exclusion. Site construction records confirm operations were underway before 1948, placing the contamination origins well within the pre-1986 window those policies covered. Carriers who issued CGL coverage to the Schaake Packing Company or associated property owners during that multi-decade operational period may still be obligated to fund the remedial investigation and cleanup costs now being incurred under the Voluntary Cleanup Program.

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.