This property has a documented history as a dry cleaning facility going back to 1946. 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 PCE contamination at this property — formally designated as F002 listed dangerous waste — originated from a dry cleaning plant that operated here from 1946 through 1958, well before 1986. Commercial General Liability policies issued to the dry cleaning operator during those twelve years of operation were occurrence-based and lacked effective pollution exclusions, making them potentially enforceable against the documented remediation costs already incurred. The active groundwater monitoring program and continuing VCP participation mean further cleanup expenditures remain ahead, so historical carriers may be obligated both to recover past costs and to fund the cleanup work still to come.

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.