This property has a documented history as a public works and maintenance facility going back to 1922. 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 transformer infrastructure at this park predates 1986, and the park itself has been continuously operated since 1922 — a period during which occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies were the industry standard and carried no effective pollution exclusion. The PCB-contaminated mineral oil release and resulting groundwater contamination pathway represent cleanup liabilities tied to infrastructure that was in place during that pre-1986 policy window. Historical carriers who covered Metro Parks Tacoma's operations during those decades may bear obligations for the investigation and remediation costs the property now faces.

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.