This property has a documented history as a dry cleaning facility going back to 1955. 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 originated from dry cleaning operations conducted between 1955 and 1980 — a 25-year period that predates the industry-wide shift away from occurrence-based Commercial General Liability coverage in 1986. CGL policies issued to the dry cleaning operator during that window had no effective pollution exclusion in Washington and remain potentially enforceable today. The documented remediation expenditures here — UST removals, soil excavation, vapor extraction, air sparging, and ongoing monitoring and maintenance obligations — are the kind of costs those historical carriers may be required to cover.

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.