This property has a documented history as a industrial and manufacturing facility going back to 1982. 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 petroleum contamination at this property originated from an underground storage tank installed in 1982, four years before occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies gave way to claims-made forms with absolute pollution exclusions. Cleanup costs here — tank closure, groundwater remediation, years of site characterization under the VCP, and a recommended vapor extraction system — stem directly from a release tied to that pre-1986 fueling infrastructure. Historical carriers who issued CGL policies covering Signal Equipment's operations during that window may still be obligated to recover past remediation expenditures and to fund the cleanup work that remains.

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.