This property has a documented history as a industrial and manufacturing facility going back to 1935. 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.

Industrial operations at this property began in 1935 and continued through the decades when occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies were the industry standard — a pre-1986 window spanning more than fifty years. Six contaminant classes are now confirmed in the property's groundwater, and cleanup costs are actively being incurred under the Voluntary Cleanup Program. Historical carriers who issued CGL policies during this extended industrial operating period may bear obligations both to reimburse remediation costs already incurred and to fund 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.