This property has a documented history as a property with a heating oil tank going back to 1970. 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 heating oil tanks at this property were installed during the 1970s or earlier — well within the era when occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies were standard and carried no effective pollution exclusion. The petroleum contamination now confirmed in soil and groundwater traces directly to those pre-1986 tank operations. With cleanup underway and remediation costs continuing to accrue, historical carriers who covered the property during the residential-use period may be obligated both to reimburse costs already incurred and to fund the remaining cleanup work.

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.