BERT HOWE
  • Nationwide: (800) 482-1822    
    institutional building building expert Seattle Washington industrial building building expert Seattle Washington landscaping construction building expert Seattle Washington retail construction building expert Seattle Washington Subterranean parking building expert Seattle Washington condominium building expert Seattle Washington low-income housing building expert Seattle Washington townhome construction building expert Seattle Washington structural steel construction building expert Seattle Washington hospital construction building expert Seattle Washington tract home building expert Seattle Washington office building building expert Seattle Washington mid-rise construction building expert Seattle Washington concrete tilt-up building expert Seattle Washington parking structure building expert Seattle Washington high-rise construction building expert Seattle Washington custom home building expert Seattle Washington production housing building expert Seattle Washington housing building expert Seattle Washington casino resort building expert Seattle Washington custom homes building expert Seattle Washington multi family housing building expert Seattle Washington
    Seattle Washington engineering expert witnessSeattle Washington hospital construction expert witnessSeattle Washington construction defect expert witnessSeattle Washington expert witness commercial buildingsSeattle Washington expert witness concrete failureSeattle Washington civil engineer expert witnessSeattle Washington building expert
    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


    Aging-in-Place Features Becoming Essential for Many Home Buyers

    A Tort, By Any Other Name, is Just a Tort: Massachusetts Court Bars Contract Claims That Sound in Negligence

    Colorado Supreme Court Rules that Developers Retain Perpetual Control over Construction Defect Covenants

    No Coverage for Faulty Workmanship Causing Property Damage to Insured's Product Only

    Seller Faces Federal Charges for Lying on Real Estate Disclosure Forms

    Mediation Clause Can Stay a Miller Act Claim, Just Not Forever

    World Green Building Council Calls for Net-Zero Embodied Carbon in Buildings by 2050

    Newmeyer & Dillion Named a Best Law Firm in 2019 in Multiple Practice Areas by U.S. News-Best Lawyers

    Real Estate & Construction News Round-Up 01/26/22

    Seller Cannot Compel Arbitration for Its Role in Construction Defect Case<

    You Are on Notice: Failure to Comply With Contractual Notice Provisions Can Be Fatal to Your Claim

    Defining a Property Management Agreement

    Terms of Your Teaming Agreement Matter

    How to Prepare for Potential Construction Disputes Resulting From COVID-19

    Chinese Hunt for Trophy Properties Boosts NYC, London Prices

    The General Assembly Adds Some Clarity to Contracts and Unlicensed Contractors

    Nomos LLP Partner Garret Murai Recognized by Super Lawyers

    Several Wilke Fleury Attorneys Featured in Sacramento Magazine 2022 Top Lawyers!

    On to Year Thirteen for Blog

    Should CGL Insurer have Duty to Defend Insured During Chapter 558 Notice of Construction Defects Process???

    Maryland Contractor Documents its Illegal Deal and Pays $2.15 Million to Settle Fraud Claims

    Dealing with Abandoned Property After Foreclosure

    Courts Will Not Second-Guess Public Entities When it Comes to Design Immunity

    Retainage on Pennsylvania Public Contracts

    Renters ‘Sold Out’ by NYC Pensions Press Mayor on Housing

    Consumer Protection Act Whacks Seattle Roofing Contractor

    Construction Defect or Just Punch List?

    Release Of “Unknown” Claim Does Not Bar Release Of “Unaccrued” Claim: Fair Or Unfair?

    Landlords Beware: Subordination Agreements

    California Clarifies Its Inverse Condemnation Standard

    Colorado Passes Construction Defect Reform Bill

    Despite Feds' Raised Bar, 2.8B Massachusetts Offshore Wind Project Presses On

    New England Construction Defect Law Groups to Combine

    A New Lawsuit Might Change the Real Estate Industry Forever

    Trumark Homes Hired James Furey as VP of Land Acquisition

    Contractors Sued for Slip

    Back to Basics: What is a Changes Clause?

    Texas Couple Claim Many Construction Defects in Home

    Real Estate & Construction News Roundup (12/4/24) – Highest Rate of Office Conversions, Lending Caps for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and Affordability Challenges for Homebuyers

    Ensuing Loss Provision Salvages Coverage for Water Damage Claim

    Tighter Requirements and a New Penalty for Owners of Vacant or Abandoned Storefronts in San Francisco

    Shimmick Gets Nod for Second Pilot Pile at Settling Millennium Tower

    Can We Compel Insurers To Cover Construction Defect in General Liability Policies?

    OSHA Reinforces COVID Guidelines for the Workplace

    Dear Engineer: Has your insurer issued a “Reservation of Rights” letter? (law note)

    What Makes Building Ventilation Good Enough to Withstand a Pandemic?

    Traub Lieberman Recognized in 2022 U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms”

    The Unwavering Un-waivable Implied Warranty of Workmanship and Habitability in Arizona

    Construction Defect Notice in the Mailbox? Respond Appropriately

    Real Estate & Construction News Roundup (10/18/23) – Zillow’s New Pilot Program, Production Begins at Solar Panel Plant in Georgia, and More Diversity on Contracts for Buffalo Bills Stadium
    Corporate Profile

    SEATTLE WASHINGTON BUILDING EXPERT
    DIRECTORY AND CAPABILITIES

    The Seattle, Washington Building Expert Group at BHA, leverages from the experience gained through more than 7,000 construction related expert witness designations encompassing a wide spectrum of construction related disputes. Leveraging from this considerable body of experience, BHA provides construction related trial support and expert services to Seattle's most recognized construction litigation practitioners, commercial general liability carriers, owners, construction practice groups, as well as a variety of state and local government agencies.

    Building Expert News & Info
    Seattle, Washington

    Alaska Supreme Court Finds Insurer Owes No Independent Duty to Injured Party

    December 14, 2020 —
    After the victim incurred injury inflicted by an insured party, the Alaska Supreme Court determined that the insurer owed no duty to the injured party. Martinez v. Government Employees Ins. Co., 2020 Alaska LEXIS 111 (Alaska Sept. 4, 2020). Joshua Martinez lost control of his truck and crashed into Charles Burnett's cabin. The cabin's heating fuel tank was damaged, and fuel drained onto the property and under the cabin. Burnett further alleged he suffered bodily injuries. Martinez was insured by GEICO under an auto policy. Two days after the accident, the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) advised GEICO to hire a qualified environmental consultant and crew to clean up the fuel spill. Burnett told GEICO he wanted to do the cleanup himself and offered to do so for $25,000, the approximate amount of the consultant retained by GEICO. DEC did not consider Burnett qualified to handle the cleanup. Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of Tred R. Eyerly, Damon Key Leong Kupchak Hastert
    Mr. Eyerly may be contacted at te@hawaiilawyer.com

    Insurer's Motion for Summary Judgment on Business Interruption Claim Denied

    September 12, 2022 —
    The insurer's motion to cap a potential business interruption claim after the insured failed to provide documentation was denied. Lake Charles Instruments Inc. v. Scottsdale Ins. Co., 2022 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 116802 (W.D. La. July 2, 2022). Plaintiff operated a business that was damaged during Hurricane Laura on August 27, 2020, and subsequently by Hurricane Delta on October 9, 2020. Plaintiff had a commercial property policy issued by Scottsdale that provided business income coverage of up to $500,000. After Hurricane Laura, plaintiff submitted a claim. Plaintiff requested an advance. Scottsdale paid $50,000 on the business interruption (BI) claim while reserving rights to require full compliance with the policy, including submission of appropriate documentation. Scottsdale continued to request documentation, but none was received. Plaintiff also failed to provide documentation for its BI claim after Hurricane Delta. When documentation was finally provided, Scottsdale disputed that the documentation showed a BI claim that exceeded policy limits. Scottsdale determined the BI claim was below the policy limits. Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of Tred R. Eyerly, Damon Key Leong Kupchak Hastert
    Mr. Eyerly may be contacted at te@hawaiilawyer.com

    The Contractor’s Contingency: What Contractors and Construction Managers Need to Know and Be Wary Of

    December 04, 2023 —
    Contractors and construction managers who enter into cost reimbursable contracts subject to a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) are responsible for all project costs exceeding the GMP. For this reason, it is imperative that contractors negotiate and incorporate into the GMP a financial buffer that accounts for the unanticipated project costs that are not reimbursable as change orders or costs of the work. This is where the contractor’s contingency comes into play.[1] The contractor’s contingency is a vehicle that allows contractors to mitigate some of the risks inherent in GMP contracts. When drafted properly, a contingency clause allows the contractor and only the contractor to access funds set aside by the owner to address unpredictable or unknown project costs. Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of Skyler L. Santomartino, Peckar & Abramson, P.C.
    Mr. Santomartino may be contacted at ssantomartino@pecklaw.com

    Kahana Feld Receives 2024 OCCDL Top Legal Organizations for DEI Award

    September 30, 2024 —
    IRVINE, CA – Sep. 12, 2024 – Kahana Feld is pleased to announce that the firm received the 2024 Top Legal Organizations for DEI Award from the Orange County Coalition for Diversity in the Law (OCCDL). The firm will be recognized at an awards gala at The Westin South Coast Plaza on October 3. Each year, the OCCDL recognizes individuals and organizations who have advanced diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Orange County legal community, whether through their excellence in the law or their direct efforts to promote DEI. Kahana Feld was recognized for programs such as its DEI book club and its regular webinars on topics like implicit bias. The firm supports various DEI organizations and initiatives in the Orange County area, including the Orange County Asian American Bar Association, the Orange County Women Lawyers Association, and the Jewish Federation of Orange County. The OCCDL is a collaborative effort of professionals from leading Orange County law firms and other community partners promoting the advancement of diverse attorneys in Orange County. The OCCDL partners with local schools and organizations to increase community involvement and provides education focused on diversity to students and attorneys. Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of Linda Carter, Kahana Feld
    Ms. Carter may be contacted at lcarter@kahanafeld.com

    Delaware “occurrence” and exclusions j(5) and j(6)

    June 10, 2011 —

    In Goodville Mut. Cas. Co. v. Baldo, No. 09-338 (D. Del. June 2, 2011), claimants condominium association and unit owners sued project developer Rehoboth and general contractor Capano seeking damages because of moisture penetration property damage to common elements and individual units resulting from construction defects. Rehoboth and Capano filed a third party complaint against insured property manager Baldo alleging that, if Rehoboth and Capano were liable to claimants, Baldo was also liable because of Baldo’s failure to properly manage, maintain, and repair the property

    Read the full story…

    Reprinted courtesy of CDCoverage.com

    Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of

    Fee Simple!

    November 11, 2024 —
    Following the grant of summary judgment by a Nebraska federal court on a construction claim, the prevailing subcontractor sought recovery of attorney’s fees, but received pushback from its opponent based upon the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The general contractor urged “that attorney’s fees are ‘special damages’ that must be specifically pleaded within a complaint under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 9(g).” The GC said that a prayer for “a judgment for… costs, interest, and attorney’s fees be entered” – without further asserting a statutory or factual basis for the recovery – is insufficient. The subcontractor shot back that “it complied with the requirements of Rule 9(g) because its prayer for relief expressly referenced attorney’s fees, and the request for such fees was based on the facts asserted in the pleadings themselves.” Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of Daniel Lund III, Phelps
    Mr. Lund may be contacted at daniel.lund@phelps.com

    Guidance for Construction Leaders: How Is the Americans With Disabilities Act Applied During the Pandemic?

    September 28, 2020 —
    With the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous cities and states have mandated infection control practices, including social distancing, mask requirements and sanitization of work areas and tools. As a result, many construction leaders now have questions as to how government guidance related to COVID-19 interacts with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). For example, can a project manager enforce a mask mandate when a construction worker presents a doctor’s excuse noting breathing difficulties? Or, what if the employer is aware that an individual presents a higher risk for severe illness because of an underlying health condition, but that employee does not request an accommodation? Thankfully, the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently published guidance relating to these requests that construction leaders can reference. While our goal is to summarize that guidance and provide practical advice for the construction sector, this article does not substitute for situation specific legal counsel. SCENARIO 1: AN EMPLOYEE REFUSES TO WEAR A MASK AND PRODUCES A DOCTOR’S NOTE CITING BREATHING DIFFICULTIES. MUST THE EMPLOYER ACCOMMODATE SUCH A REQUEST? Potentially. Since the request to not wear a mask is considered an accommodation under the ADA, the employer can still require a doctor’s note when considering the accommodation. Reprinted courtesy of Molly Gwin, Construction Executive, a publication of Associated Builders and Contractors. All rights reserved. Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of
    Ms. Gwin may be contacted at mgwin@isaacwiles.com

    Will COVID-19 Permanently Shift the Balance between Work from Home and the Workplace?

    April 13, 2020 —
    On March 15, 2020, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued formal guidance to combat the spread of the coronavirus by recommending against gatherings of 50 or more people for the next eight weeks (CDC guidance), which includes nearly every office building in America. Thus, began the most significant work from home experiment this country has ever seen. With the majority of the workforce working from home, many employees see this as an opportunity to finally prove that, “yes, that meeting could have been an email.” However, while workers will not be distracted by constant (and potentially unnecessary) meetings, a number of issues and questions arise with working from home. Most importantly, is this working from home experiment a temporary opportunity for businesses to test remote work ideas or is this the new normal? And how will this affect commercial real estate moving forward? Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of Adam Weaver, Pillsbury
    Mr. Weaver may be contacted at adam.weaver@pillsburylaw.com