This property has a documented history as a gasoline service station predating 1986. 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.

Physical evidence recovered during tank excavation — oil cans, automotive parts, and other debris buried beneath the tank installation — establishes that Larry's Service operated as a fueling and vehicle-service facility before 1986, when occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies were the industry standard and carried no effective pollution exclusion. The petroleum contamination confirmed in groundwater beneath this property is consistent with long-term releases from fuel storage and handling operations spanning that pre-1986 window. Historical CGL carriers whose policies were in force during those earlier operations may be obligated to fund the ongoing remediation costs at this site.

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.