BERT HOWE
  • Nationwide: (800) 482-1822    
    condominium building expert Seattle Washington office building building expert Seattle Washington tract home building expert Seattle Washington mid-rise construction building expert Seattle Washington production housing building expert Seattle Washington custom homes building expert Seattle Washington landscaping construction building expert Seattle Washington multi family housing building expert Seattle Washington parking structure building expert Seattle Washington structural steel construction building expert Seattle Washington concrete tilt-up building expert Seattle Washington townhome construction building expert Seattle Washington custom home building expert Seattle Washington housing building expert Seattle Washington industrial building building expert Seattle Washington retail construction building expert Seattle Washington high-rise construction building expert Seattle Washington casino resort building expert Seattle Washington institutional building building expert Seattle Washington Medical building building expert Seattle Washington Subterranean parking building expert Seattle Washington hospital construction building expert Seattle Washington
    Seattle Washington structural concrete expertSeattle Washington expert witness roofingSeattle Washington building consultant expertSeattle Washington construction scheduling expert witnessSeattle Washington construction expert witness public projectsSeattle Washington expert witness structural engineerSeattle Washington construction cost estimating expert witness
    Arrange No Cost Consultation
    Building Expert Builders Information
    Seattle, Washington

    Washington Builders Right To Repair Current Law Summary:

    Current Law Summary: (SB 5536) The legislature passed a contractor protection bill that reduces contractors' exposure to lawsuits to six years from 12, and gives builders seven "affirmative defenses" to counter defect complaints from homeowners. Claimant must provide notice no later than 45 days before filing action; within 21 days of notice of claim, "construction professional" must serve response; claimant must accept or reject inspection proposal or settlement offer within 30 days; within 14 days following inspection, construction pro must serve written offer to remedy/compromise/settle; claimant can reject all offers; statutes of limitations are tolled until 60 days after period of time during which filing of action is barred under section 3 of the act. This law applies to single-family dwellings and condos.


    Building Expert Contractors Licensing
    Guidelines Seattle Washington

    A license is required for plumbing, and electrical trades. Businesses must register with the Secretary of State.


    Building Expert Contractors Building Industry
    Association Directory
    MBuilders Association of King & Snohomish Counties
    Local # 4955
    335 116th Ave SE
    Bellevue, WA 98004

    Seattle Washington Building Expert 10/ 10

    Home Builders Association of Kitsap County
    Local # 4944
    5251 Auto Ctr Way
    Bremerton, WA 98312

    Seattle Washington Building Expert 10/ 10

    Home Builders Association of Spokane
    Local # 4966
    5813 E 4th Ave Ste 201
    Spokane, WA 99212

    Seattle Washington Building Expert 10/ 10

    Home Builders Association of North Central
    Local # 4957
    PO Box 2065
    Wenatchee, WA 98801

    Seattle Washington Building Expert 10/ 10

    MBuilders Association of Pierce County
    Local # 4977
    PO Box 1913 Suite 301
    Tacoma, WA 98401

    Seattle Washington Building Expert 10/ 10

    North Peninsula Builders Association
    Local # 4927
    PO Box 748
    Port Angeles, WA 98362
    Seattle Washington Building Expert 10/ 10

    Jefferson County Home Builders Association
    Local # 4947
    PO Box 1399
    Port Hadlock, WA 98339

    Seattle Washington Building Expert 10/ 10


    Building Expert News and Information
    For Seattle Washington


    Beware of Personal-Liability Clauses – Even When Signing in Your Representative Capacity

    Struggling Astaldi Announces Defaults on Florida Highway Contracts

    Wilke Fleury Attorneys Featured in “The Best Lawyers in America” & “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch” 2025 Editions

    Ohio Condo Development Case Filed in 2011 is Scheduled for Trial

    California Complex Civil Litigation Superior Court Panels

    How the Science of Infection Can Make Cities Stronger

    Chinese Billionaire Sues Local Governments Over Project Payment

    Subcontract Should Flow Down Delay Caused by Subcontractors

    Floating Crane on Job in NYC's East River Has a Storied Past of Cold War Intrigue

    How to Build a Water-Smart City

    Mandatory Arbitration Isn’t All Bad, if. . .

    When it Comes to COVID Emergency Regulations, Have a Plan

    No Coverage for Faulty Workmanship Based Upon Exclusion for Contractual Assumption of Liability

    Certificates of Insurance May Confer Coverage

    Seabold Construction Ties Demise to Dispute with Real Estate Developer

    Insured Entitled to Defense After Posting Medical Records Online

    Prefabrication Contract Considerations

    What Counts as Adequate Opportunity to Cure?

    Home Prices Beat Estimates With 0.8% Gain in November

    Start-up to Streamline Large-Scale Energy Renovation

    Flood Sublimits Do Not Apply to Loss Caused by Named Windstorm

    California Commission Recommends Switching To Fault-Based Wildfire Liability Standard for Public Utilities

    Limiting Services Can Lead to Increased Liability

    Consequential Damage Claims for Insurer's Bad Faith Dismissed

    Napa Quake, Flooding Cost $4 Billion in U.S. in August

    White and Williams recognized with Multiple Honorees in the Chambers 2023 USA Guide

    Bally's Secures Funding for $1.7B Chicago Casino and Hotel Project

    Where Breach of Contract and Tortious Interference Collide

    10 Safety Tips for General Contractors

    COVID-19 Information and Resources

    Beyond the Flow-Down Clause: Subcontract Provisions That Can Expose General Contractors to Increased Liability and Inconsistent Outcomes

    IRMI Expert Commentary: Managing Insurance Coverage from Multiple Insurers

    Allegations of Actual Property Damage Necessary to Invoke Duty to Defend

    Montana Federal Court Holds that an Interior Department’s Federal Advisory Committee Was Improperly Reestablished

    Bad News for Buyers: U.S. Mortgage Rates Hit Highest Since 2014

    Sales of New U.S. Homes Fell in February to Five-Month Low

    The Credibility of Your Expert (Including Your Delay Expert) Matters in Construction Disputes

    Ninth Circuit Construes Known Loss Provision

    Storm Eunice Damage in U.K. Could Top £300 Million

    Commercial Construction Lenders Rejoice: The Pennsylvania Legislature Provides a Statutory fix for the “Kessler” Decision

    California Ranks As Leading State for Green Building in 2022

    Corps Proposes $4.6B Plan to Steel Miami for Storm Surge

    Know and Meet Your Notice Requirements or Lose Your Payment Bond Claims

    Wendel Rosen’s Construction Practice Group Receives First Tier Ranking

    July 1, 2015 Statutory Changes Affecting Virginia Contractors and Subcontractors

    Formal Opinion No. 2020-203: How A Lawyer Is to Handle Access to Client Confidential Information and Anticipation of Potential Security Issues

    Newmeyer Dillion Attorneys Selected To The Best Lawyers In America© And Orange County "Lawyer Of The Year" 2020

    Condos Down in Denver Due to Construction Defect Litigation

    Uniformity in Florida’s Construction Bond Laws Brings About Fairness for the Industry

    Withholding Payment or Having Your Payment Withheld Due to Disputes on Other Projects: Know Your Rights to Offset
    Corporate Profile

    SEATTLE WASHINGTON BUILDING EXPERT
    DIRECTORY AND CAPABILITIES

    The Seattle, Washington Building Expert Group is comprised from a number of credentialed construction professionals possessing extensive trial support experience relevant to construction defect and claims matters. Leveraging from more than 25 years experience, BHA provides construction related trial support and expert services to the nation's most recognized construction litigation practitioners, Fortune 500 builders, commercial general liability carriers, owners, construction practice groups, and a variety of state and local government agencies.

    Building Expert News & Info
    Seattle, Washington

    Colorado House Bill 1279 Stalls over 120-day Unit Owner Election Period

    April 20, 2017 —
    With the session more than halfway through, the Colorado Legislature’s 2017 attempts at meaningful construction defect reform may fail again. This year, the Legislature did not attempt a single-bill construction defect overhaul like those that have failed over the last half-decade. Rather, it has sought to enact reforms on a piecemeal basis, with several smaller bills addressing specific issues that have been affecting condominium construction along Colorado’s booming Front Range. This new approach appears to be headed towards much the same outcome as the failed efforts of the past. House Bill 1169 would have given developers a statutory right to repair before being sued by homeowners, and Senate Bill 156 would mandate arbitration or mediation. Both have been assigned to the House State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee (often viewed as the “bill-kill committee”), and have little chance of being resuscitated this session. This was also the fate of House Bill 1279, but bipartisan support had many believing that it still had a chance of passing—at least until last week. House Bill 1279 would require an executive board of a homeowners association to satisfy several prerequisites before suing a developer or builder, namely to (1) notify all unit owners and the developer or builder against whom the lawsuit is being considered; (2) call an association meeting where the builder or developer could present relevant facts and arguments; and (3) get approval from the majority of the unit owners after providing detailed disclosures about the lawsuit, including the potential costs and benefits thereof. Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of Luke Mecklenburg, Snell & Wilmer
    Mr. Mecklenburg may be contacted at lmecklenburg@swlaw.com

    A Court-Side Seat: Appeals and Agency Developments at the Close of 2020

    December 29, 2020 —
    THE FEDERAL APPELLATE COURTS The U.S. Court of Appeals On November 23, 2020, the court, in a 2-to-1 vote, rejected the plaintiff’s request for an emergency injunction pending appeal in the case of Manzanita Band of Kumeyaay Nation, et al. v. Wolf. The majority held the requirement for such relief did not meet the requirements set forth in Winter v. NRDC, 555 US 7 (2008). Here, the plaintiffs allege that that the government’s construction of a border wall violates several environmental laws that were illegally waived by the Secretary of the Interior. Judge Millett dissented in part because the plaintiffs demonstrated a likelihood of success on the merits. She pointed to the argument that the authority of the Secretary—or Acting Secretary—to take these actions has been successfully challenged in several federal district courts. An expedited pleading schedule was established by the court. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit On November 17, 2020, in Ergon-West ,Inc. v. EPA, the court again reversed the EPA’s decision denying regulatory relief to a small refinery seeking a waiver of the renewable fuels mandate of the Clean Air Act. Ergon is a small refinery and requested relief in the basis of the economic harm that compliance would entail. In 2018, the court ruled in Ergon’s favor and remanded the case back to the agency. After relief was again denied, the court held that “Ergon has come forward with sufficient evidence undermining one aspect” of the agency’s latest decision, and the ruling was returned to EPA for additional analysis. It appears that a complicated process has become even more complicated. Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of Anthony B. Cavender, Pillsbury
    Mr. Eyerly may be contacted at te@hawaiilawyer.com

    One Shot to Get It Right: Navigating the COVID-19 Vaccine in the Workplace

    January 18, 2021 —
    The Food and Drug Administration has granted Emergency Use Authorization for Pfizer and Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines. As COVID-19 cases continue to rise, employers across all industries may be considering whether to adopt a vaccination policy requiring vaccination as a condition of working and/or accessing the workplace or jobsite. The FDA’s recent authorization of the COVID-19 vaccine raises several legal and practical issues that employers may wish to consider as they prepare for widespread distribution and availability of the vaccine in 2021. Mandating the COVID-19 Vaccine in the Workplace The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission recently issued guidance suggesting that employers may mandate that employees receive the COVID-19 vaccination, subject to certain limitations. The EEOC has taken the position that administration of the COVID-19 vaccine does not implicate the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) because administration of the vaccine is not a medical examination. Under the EEOC’s guidance, employers, regardless of the industry, may require that employees receive the COVID-19 vaccine without having to justify that the mandate is job related and consistent with business necessity. Beyond that, construction employers should be aware of numerous issues and risks associated with mandatory vaccine policies. Reprinted courtesy of Natale DiNatale, Stephen W. Aronson, Britt-Marie K. Cole-Johnson, Emily A. Zaklukiewicz, Kayla N. West & Abby M. Warren of Construction Executive, a publication of Associated Builders and Contractors. All rights reserved. Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of

    New Insurance Case: Owners'​ Insurance Barred in Reimbursement Action against Tenant

    April 17, 2019 —
    The Western Heritage Ins. Co. v. Frances Todd, Inc. (2019 Cal.App. LEXIS 299 / 2019 WL 1450731) case has potential implications for insurance carriers, policyholders, condominium associations, unit owners, landlords and tenants. The case involves a fire at a commercial condominium complex (the “Association”). The Association’s CC&Rs required the Association to purchase a master fire insurance policy for the benefit of the Association and owners, with a waiver of subrogation endorsement that stated the insurance company could not seek reimbursement from the Association, its officers, owners or occupants of the units in the event of a covered fire. The CC&Rs also prohibited individual owners from obtaining their own fire insurance. The Association purchased the required fire insurance policy from Western Heritage Insurance Company (“Western Heritage”). One of the owner’s tenants, Frances Todd, Inc. (“Frances Todd”), allegedly caused a fire that damaged several units. Although the unit owner was covered as an additional named insured under the Western Heritage fire policy, the tenant, Frances Todd, was not. Western Heritage paid for the common area fire damage caused by Francis Todd, and then sued Frances Todd in a subrogation action to recover the amounts paid. Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of Jason M. Adams, Gibbs Giden
    Mr. Adams may be contacted at jadams@gibbsgiden.com

    A New Way to Design in 3D – Interview with Pouria Kay of Grib

    August 24, 2017 —
    In this podcast interview with Pouria Kay, CEO and Co-founder at Grib, we talk about the startup’s new, intuitive 3D design tool. Grib® is a cloud–based software that turns a mobile device into a universal controller. With Grib, both young and professional designers can sketch complex objects without first having to learn cumbersome 3D software. You work intuitively in actual 3D space and interact with your environment using augmented reality. All you need is pen, paper, and your mobile device. You can share models with friends, order a print, or export them if needed. Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of Aarni Heiskanen, AEC Business
    Mr. Heiskanen may be contacted at info@aepartners.fi

    Ruling Dealing with Constructive Changes, Constructive Suspension, and the Implied Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing

    January 22, 2024 —
    A dispute pending in the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals (ASBCA) dealt with interesting legal issues on a motion to dismiss. See Appeals of McCarthy Hitt-Next NGA West JV, ASBCA No. 63571, 2023 WL 9179193 (ASBCA 2023). The dispute involves a contractor passing through subcontractor claims due to impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the government’s response to the pandemic. More particularly, the claim centers on the premise that the government “failed to work with [the contractor] in good faith to develop a collaborative and cooperative approach to manage and mitigate the impacts and delays arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.” See Appeals of McCarthy Hitt. The contractor (again, submitting pass through claims from subcontractors) claimed: (a) constructive changes to the contract entitling it to an equitable adjustment under the Changes clause of Federal Acquisition Regulation (F.A.R.) 52.243-4; (b) construction suspensions of the contractor’s work entitling it to an equitable adjustment under the Suspensions of Work clause of F.A.R. 52-242-14; and (c) the government breached the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. Each of these legal issues and theories will be discussed below because they are need-to-know legal issues. Keep these legal issues in mind, and the ASBCA’s ruling on the motion to dismiss as its analysis may demonstrate fruitful in other applications. Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of David Adelstein, Kirwin Norris, P.A.
    Mr. Adelstein may be contacted at dma@kirwinnorris.com

    Insurer's Failure to Settle Does Not Justify Multiple Damages under Unfair Claims Settlement Law

    February 04, 2013 —
    Although the insurer failed to understand the pertinent law that mandated coverage under the policy, its actions did not rise to an unfair claim settlement practice justifying multiple damages. Gelwan v. Vermont Mut. Ins. Co., 2013 U.S. app. LEXIS 210 (2nd Cir. Jan. 4, 2013). In 1999, a contractor re-roofed the insureds' home. The job was poorly done, and an imperfect seal was created. Over several years, various structures within the house were damaged by water, which caused the rotting of structural beams and joists. The insureds sued for coverage under their homeowners policy. Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of Tred Eyerly
    te@hawaiilawyer.com

    White House Plan Would Break Up Corps Civil-Works Functions

    July 18, 2018 —
    As part of a sweeping federal government reorganization proposal, the White House has recommended shifting the Army Corps of Engineers’ civil-works operation to the Dept. of Transportation and the Dept. of the Interior. Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of Tom Ichniowski, ENR
    Mr. Ichniowski may be contacted at ichniowskit@enr.com