This property has a documented history as a gasoline service station predating 1986. 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 detected here — benzene, toluene, and gasoline-range hydrocarbons — traces directly to fuel-dispensing operations at TD Auto Body & Repair's former service station, operations that were active well before 1986. The site's enrollment in the Voluntary Cleanup Program has already generated investigation expenditures and commits the property to further assessment and remediation obligations as cleanup proceeds. Historical CGL carriers whose policies covered this specific property during the decades of active fuel dispensing may bear responsibility for both the investigation costs already incurred and the cleanup work still ahead.

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.