This property has a documented history as a bulk fuel distribution terminal going back to 1919. 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.

Whitney Distributing Co operated as a bulk petroleum facility for more than six decades before 1986, when occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies were the industry standard and carried no effective pollution exclusion. The petroleum and solvent contamination now being addressed in soil, groundwater, and surface water traces to operations conducted throughout that long pre-1986 window. Historical carriers who issued CGL policies during those decades of bulk fuel handling may be obligated to fund both past remediation expenditures and the cleanup costs 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.