This property has a documented history as a public works and maintenance facility going back to 1900. Historical insurance policies issued during operations at this property 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 PCB-containing transformer at this property is consistent with pre-1986 facility infrastructure common at commercial and institutional sites from the 1960s through the 1980s, placing the contamination source squarely within the era of occurrence-based CGL coverage. PCBs detected across three environmental media — groundwater, surface water, and sediment — signal a remediation scope that will carry substantial investigation and cleanup costs. Historical carriers whose policies were in effect during the decades this equipment was in service may bear an obligation to fund those upcoming expenditures.

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.