This property has a documented history as a public works and maintenance facility going back to 1940. 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 underground storage tanks at this property were installed in 1966 and 1976 — well within the era when occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies were standard and carried no effective pollution exclusion in Washington. Petroleum contamination from those tanks, including benzene and gasoline-range hydrocarbons in groundwater, traces directly to infrastructure put in place during the coverage period. Historical carriers who issued CGL policies to the site's operators during those decades may be obligated to fund both the remediation costs already incurred and the cleanup work that remains 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.