By Kristen Drake
Exploring the fascinating world of insurance archaeology.
Introduction: Why It Still Matters
For many dry cleaners, the topic of environmental cleanup feels distant, something to think about only when regulators come knocking. But as many in our industry have learned, what happened decades ago can resurface today in the form of environmental investigations or cleanup requirements. The good news? There’s often funding available for those challenges, hidden in plain sight within old insurance policies.
That’s where Insurance Archaeology comes in. Officially, it’s “the practice of locating and retrieving the proof of the existence, terms, conditions, and limits of lost or destroyed insurance policies.” At PolicyFind, we liken it to genealogy with an insurance twist. By uncovering evidence of coverage purchased long ago, we help business and property owners unlock funding that still applies today.
From the Early Days to Real Results
PolicyFind was originally founded to serve dry cleaners. Over twenty years ago, our CEO, Steve Henshaw, well known to readers of this publication, assembled a team of investigators, geologists, and engineers to pair two ideas that didn’t usually meet: cleaning up contaminated properties and finding insurance coverage to pay for it. The goal was simple: turn liabilities into assets.
Many dry cleaners we work with fall into one of three categories:
- They worry their property may be contaminated due to older operations.
- They know contamination exists, but have delayed action because of cost.
- They aren’t required to address it yet, so they’ve set it aside.
If any of those sound familiar, this article is for you. Insurance archeology is not only for those already in cleanup; it can and should be done early to protect your investment and ensure resources are available when needed.
Understanding the Value of Old Policies
Steve Henshaw was among the first to recognize how valuable historical general liability policies could be. These occurrence-based policies never expire. They cover damage that occurred during the time the policy was in effect, regardless of when a claim is made. When leveraged properly, these old policies can fund environmental investigation, remediation, and even legal defense.
The most significant coverage is usually found in policies issued before 1986, the point at which the Absolute Pollution Exclusion became common. In practical terms, that means insurance written before the mid-1980s can still respond to contamination discovered today.
From Hidden Policies to Real Cleanup
Locating these policies is part detective work and part documentation recovery. PolicyFind researchers interview former employees and agents, dig through archives, and trace the paper trails left behind by mergers, transfers, and renewals. We then work with coverage counsel to use that evidence to place insurers on notice and pursue recovery.
This process has helped our clients fund millions of dollars in cleanup costs and defend against regulatory claims without draining business or personal finances. Here are just a few examples.
A Family Cleaner Avoids $600,000 in Cleanup Costs
A family-run dry cleaner in Wisconsin discovered PCE contamination beneath their facility. The state’s Dry Cleaner Fund initially helped, but $600,000 in additional costs remained. PolicyFind located historical liability insurance that had been forgotten for decades. Once the evidence was submitted, the insurer assumed the costs and cleanup continued without interruption, protecting both the property and the family’s financial future.
California Cleaner Uncovers Forgotten Coverage
A retired dry cleaner in Chico, California, faced cleanup demands from the state environmental authority related to historical contamination. PolicyFind conducted targeted insurance archaeology and located general liability coverage from the 1981 policy period. That discovery provided the foundation for the insurer’s defense and coverage obligations, sparing the client significant personal expense.
Historic Policies Fund $2 Million Cleanup Effort
In another case, a dry cleaner retained PolicyFind and coverage counsel after the State of California linked the operation to groundwater contamination. Through comprehensive insurance archaeology, our team located four years of historical liability coverage, forming the legal and financial foundation for a $2 million environmental investigation. The work defined contamination stretching more than a mile and a half long and over 400 feet deep. Thanks to PolicyFind’s efforts, the dry cleaner avoided out-of-pocket costs, and the insurer continues to fund the ongoing response.
Turning a Liability into a Property Sale
In Indiana, a dry-cleaning business preparing to sell its property learned that contamination might delay or derail the sale. PolicyFind reconstructed the company’s insurance history and helped coverage counsel work with multiple carriers. The settlements exceeded the cost of cleanup, allowing the sale to proceed smoothly. What began as a liability ended as a successful transaction.
Coverage That Keeps a Community Moving Forward
A Midwestern city faced redevelopment challenges at a former plating facility contaminated with hexavalent chromium. PolicyFind uncovered historic coverage tied to a bankrupt former operator. That discovery provided the legal and financial basis for the city to pursue cost recovery. With funding in place, cleanup and redevelopment are now underway, bringing new jobs and community revitalization.
Beyond Dry Cleaning: Industrial and Municipal Success
While PolicyFind was built for drycleaners, insurance archaeology has proven valuable across many sectors. We’ve helped municipal sewer districts pursue recovery for PCB contamination, manufacturers address solvent releases, and national corporations recover millions through policy buybacks. In every case, the principle remains the same: old insurance is an asset that still pays today. These recoveries reduce public spending, accelerate redevelopment, and preserve business and property value.
City of Lodi Strengthens Brownfield Recovery Through Insurance Archaeology
In 2003, the City of Lodi, California, turned to PolicyFind after previous consultants failed to locate evidence of coverage for a contaminated Brownfield site. Our team conducted advanced insurance archaeology, combining corporate history analysis with targeted archival research. The investigation uncovered additional evidence of historical liability insurance tied to companies identified as Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs). These findings expanded the City’s funding options and strengthened its ability to pursue cost recovery for site remediation and redevelopment.
How Insurance Archaeology Works in Practice
PolicyFind’s process blends investigation and strategy. We start by reconstructing the operational and insurance history of a site. Our team tracks down potential carriers, brokers, and archived files, then develops a coverage evidence log that documents each policy year. Once verified, this documentation supports claim submission and negotiation.
Because there is no central database for old insurance records, our work often involves on-site reviews, state archives, and historical corporate research. These efforts regularly uncover the key to millions of dollars in cleanup funding.
Key Takeaway: Your Past Still Has Value
If the earlier version of this article introduced the why behind insurance archeology, this updated piece shows the how. Historical insurance recovery is no longer an abstract concept; it’s a proven, practical tool for protecting businesses and communities.
Old policies may be buried in boxes, stored in basements, or long forgotten, but they still hold real value. With the right expertise and a focused insurance archeology investigation, those policies can transform yesterday’s coverage into today’s solution, helping dry cleaners, property owners, and municipalities protect what matters most.
This article was first published in Cleaner & Launderer, who is committed to sharing solutions that help the industry thrive. This article was written to remind dry cleaners and business owners that the past can pay forward, and that the right approach to environmental responsibility can strengthen both community and business for years to come.
Ready to uncover coverage that still protects you today?
Contact PolicyFind to learn how insurance archaeology can help fund your environmental cleanup or strengthen your property’s value.