This property has a documented history as a dry cleaning facility going back to 1948. Historical insurance policies issued during those prior operations and through 1986 could fund a cleanup.

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 site originated from dry cleaning operations conducted more than three decades before 1986, when occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies still provided broad pollution coverage without effective exclusions. Sullivan's dry cleaning operations at this address from 1948 to 1956 fall squarely within that window, and the resulting contamination of a municipal water supply represents substantial remediation liability. Historical carriers who issued CGL policies covering those dry cleaning operations may be obligated to fund the outstanding cleanup costs.

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.