This property has a documented history as a dry cleaning facility predating 1986. Historical insurance policies issued during those prior operations and through 1986 could recover the cleanup costs already paid.

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 solvent contamination at this Federal Way property originated from dry cleaning operations that predate 1986, when occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies were standard and carried no effective pollution exclusion. PCE, TCE, and their chlorinated breakdown products in groundwater represent exactly the kind of gradual, ongoing release those policies were written to cover. The remediation costs incurred to achieve No Further Action status — documented through the independent remedial action report and VCP opinion letter — are expenditures that historical carriers who insured the former dry cleaning operator may still be obligated to recover.

Restorical's role is to locate viable historical policies, determine whether a successful cost recovery claim is possible, and assist our clients and their legal counsel to obtain insurance coverage for costs already incurred. Restorical's forensic accounting team works to re-establish and document past cleanup expenditures, ensuring the strongest possible basis for recovery.