Industrial & Manufacturing cleanup site — Restorical Research
Westbridge Building
Seattle, King County
Restorical Research
Preliminary Site-Specific Analysis

This property has a documented history as a industrial and manufacturing facility predating 1986. Historical insurance policies issued during operations at this property and through 1986 could fund a cleanup — and recover costs already spent.

The Westbridge Building property operated as a warehouse and office facility with on-site gasoline and heating oil underground storage tanks. Remediation under the Voluntary Cleanup Program has spanned more than two decades, beginning with gasoline UST removal and soil excavation of 160 cubic yards in 1991, followed by additional excavations of 75 cubic yards in 1993 and 1,350 tons in 2001, along with recovery of 7,600 gallons of petroleum-affected groundwater and in-place closure of a heating oil UST. The facility remains in active commercial use as a warehouse and office, with ongoing assessment and cleanup needs identified through at least 2013. That history could support an insurance cost recovery claim against carriers who issued insurance policies 40+ years ago.

Former Use
Former Industrial & Manufacturing
AddressSeattle, King County
Historical UseIndustrial & Manufacturing
Est. Operating SincePre-1986
StatusCleanup Started
Contamination & Investigation
Site Assessment Summary
ContaminantsPetroleum hydrocarbons from gasoline and heating oil USTs detected in soil and groundwater
Media ImpactedSoil, Groundwater
Regulatory ProgramMTCA — Voluntary Cleanup Program
Ecology Site #5305

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.

Petroleum contamination at this property originated from underground storage tanks that were in service well before 1986, when occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies carried no effective pollution exclusion in Washington. More than two decades of documented remediation expenditures — UST removals, thousands of tons of soil excavation, groundwater recovery, and continuing site assessment — represent costs that historical carriers who issued CGL policies during the pre-1986 operational window may be obligated both to reimburse and to fund as cleanup work continues.

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.

What We Look For

  • Historical insurance policies (pre-1986)
  • Policy numbers, carrier names, and coverage periods
  • Connection between contamination timing and policy period
  • Evidence linking cleanup obligation to insured activity

What We Deliver

  • Historical Coverage Chart
  • Trigger Analysis & Property/Policy Nexus
  • Coverage strategy with recommendations
  • Insurance funding for your remediation
  • Claims Management & Forensic Accounting

The Restorical Proven Process

Task 1 — Research and Analysis
Restorical searches for viable historical insurance policies, researches the site history, analyzes the contamination impacts, and underwrites potential coverage — including a proprietary trigger analysis. At the end of Task 1, we provide a clear yes or no on whether a successful cost recovery is possible, along with a strategy and recommendation specific to your situation, even if you are not the policyholder.
Task 2 — Coverage and Funding
When Task 1 confirms viable coverage, Restorical works with your legal counsel to tender the claim, negotiate and secure insurance coverage. Restorical will manage the ongoing claim process, including accounting to ensure the insurance companies are funding your remediation in a timely manner.

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This analysis is preliminary and based on publicly available records. Restorical Research is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice.