This property has a documented history as a dry cleaning facility going back to 1985. 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 contamination at this property originated from a dry cleaning operation that began in November 1985 and generated documented PCE releases — including spills recorded in 1991 — during its active years, tying the releases directly to the policy window when occurrence-based CGL coverage was in force. The remediation costs already incurred — soil vapor extraction, excavation of 4,202 tons of impacted soil, and disposal of nearly 40,000 gallons of contaminated water — represent expenditures that historical carriers may be obligated to recover. The work still actively underway — a newly installed 12-well monitoring network, continuing groundwater monitoring, and restrictive covenants — represents additional obligations those same carriers may be required to fund going forward.

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.