This property has a documented history as a industrial and manufacturing facility going back to 1980. Historical insurance policies issued during operations at this property 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 chromium contamination at this site traces directly to chrome plating operations and a 1983 fire — both predating 1986, when occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies routinely lacked effective pollution exclusions in Washington. Historical carriers who issued CGL policies to Spur Industries during its pre-1986 operational window may bear liability for the documented remediation expenditures already incurred, including surface cap construction, waste management, and nearly a decade of groundwater monitoring. With active industrial operations continuing on-site and cleanup still underway, those historical policies may also obligate carriers to fund future remediation costs as the site progresses toward closure.

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.