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    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


    Contractor’s Coverage For Additional Insured Established by Unilateral Contract

    Washington High Court Holds Insurers Bound by Representations in Agent’s Certificates of Insurance

    The Need to Be Specific and Precise in Drafting Settling Agreements

    No Coverage For Damage Caused by Chinese Drywall

    Insurer Granted Summary Judgment on Faulty Workmanship Claim

    Five Types of Structural Systems in High Rise Buildings

    The Court of Appeals Holds That Indifference to Safety Satisfies the Standard for a Willful Violation Under WISHA

    U.S. Firm Helps Thais to Pump Water From Cave to Save Boys

    Federal Contractors – Double Check the Terms of Your Contract Before Performing Ordered Changes

    Real Estate & Construction News Roundup (08/15/23) – Manufacturing Soars with CHIPS Act, New Threats to U.S. Infrastructure and AI Innovation for One Company

    Orion Group Holdings Honored with Leadership in Safety Award

    No Additional Insured Coverage for Subcontractor's Work Outside Policy Period

    What You Need to Know About Additional Insured Endorsements

    Federal Judge Vacates CDC Eviction Moratorium Nationwide

    Property Owners Sue San Francisco Over Sinking Sidewalks

    Five LEED and Green Construction Trends to Watch in 2020

    Sanctions Issued for Frivolous Hurricane Sandy Complaint Filed Against Insurer

    Legislatures Shouldn’t Try to Do the Courts’ Job

    Colombia's $15 Billion Road Plan Bounces Back From Bribe Scandal

    CDJ’s #8 Topic of the Year: California’s Board of Equalization Tower

    Construction Firms Complain of Missed Payments on Redevelopment Project

    Collapse Claim Dismissed

    Two Years, Too Late: Time-Barred Hurricane Loss is Timely Reminder to Insureds

    Coverage for Named Windstorm Removed by Insured, Terminating Such Coverage

    Unravel the Facts Before Asserting FDUTPA and Tortious Interference Claims

    Maximizing Contractual Indemnity Rights: Components of an Effective Provision

    Payne & Fears Recognized by Best Lawyers in 2025 Best Law Firms®

    Insurer Must Defend General Contractor

    Judge Sentences Roofing Contractor Owner in Florida PPP Fraud Case

    Contractors: Revisit your Force Majeure Provisions to Account for Hurricanes

    General Contractors Have Expansive Common Law and Statutory Duties To Provide a Safe Workplace

    Wes Payne Receives Defense Attorney of the Year Award

    D&O Insurer Must Cover Mortgage Broker’s $15 Million Settlement of Alleged False Claims Act Violations

    Prejudice to Insurer After Late Notice of Hurricane Damage Raises Issue of Fact

    Housing Buoyed by 20-Year High for Vet’s Loans: Mortgages

    Fifth Circuit Certifies Eight-Corners Duty to Defend Issue to Texas Supreme Court

    U.S. Supreme Court Weighs in on Construction Case

    Wall Street Is Buying Starter Homes to Quietly Become America’s Landlord

    Courthouse Reporter Series: Nebraska Court of Appeals Vacates Arbitration Award for Misconduct

    Art Dao, Executive Director of the Alameda County Transportation Commission, Speaks at Wendel Rosen’s Infrastructure Forum

    Lien Law Change in Idaho

    California Assembly Passes Expedited Dam Safety for Silicon Valley Act

    Insurer Must Pay To Defend Product Defect Claims From Date Of Product Installation

    Louisiana Court Applies Manifestation Trigger to Affirm Denial of Coverage

    Update: New VOSH Maximum Penalties as of July 1

    Damages or Injury “Likely to Occur” or “Imminent” May No Longer Trigger Insurance Coverage

    Texas and Georgia Are Paying the Price for Sprawl

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    The Importance of the Subcontractor Exception to the “Your Work” Exclusion

    Florida Property Bill Passes Economic Affairs Committee with Amendments
    Corporate Profile

    SEATTLE WASHINGTON BUILDING EXPERT
    DIRECTORY AND CAPABILITIES

    Leveraging from more than 7,000 construction defect and claims related expert witness designations, the Seattle, Washington Building Expert Group provides a wide range of trial support and consulting services to Seattle's most acknowledged construction practice groups, CGL carriers, builders, owners, and public agencies. Drawing from a diverse pool of construction and design professionals, BHA is able to simultaneously analyze complex claims from the perspective of design, engineering, cost, or standard of care.

    Building Expert News & Info
    Seattle, Washington

    New Becker & Poliakoff Attorney to Expand Morristown Construction Litigation Practice

    September 10, 2014 —
    According to New Jersey On-Line, Matthew Meyers has joined the Becker & Poliakoff firm at its Morristown office. Meyers “specializes in commercial litigation, with an emphasis on complex construction defects and real estate disputes.” “This is an exciting move for me,” Meyers stated, as quoted by New Jersey On-Line. “I was attracted to Becker by the firm’s depth of construction litigation talent and the additional resources available for these claims. My new firm will not only enhance my practice but will elevate the level of services I provide to clients, which has always been my top priority.“ Read the court decision
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    Reprinted courtesy of

    Mississippi Supreme Court Addresses Earth Movement Exclusion

    December 09, 2019 —
    Recently, the Mississippi Supreme Court held that structural damages to the foundation of an insured’s home came within the earth movement exclusion in a homeowner’s policy, notwithstanding a provision in the policy which provided coverage for water damage resulting “from accidental discharge or overflow of water … from within … [p]lumbing, heating, air condition or household appliance.” In Mississippi Farm Bureau Cas. Ins. Co. v. Smith, 264 So. 3d 737 (Miss. 2019), the appellee, Smith, filed a lawsuit against her homeowner's insurance company, Mississippi Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Company (“Farm Bureau”) for its refusal to pay for repairs to the foundation of Smith’s home. Smith alleged that the refusal to pay for repairs amounted to breach of contract and asserted claims for bad faith and tortious breach of contract. In response, Farm Bureau filed a motion for summary judgment on the basis of the policy’s earth-movement exclusion, which provided that Farm Bureau “did not insure for loss caused directly or indirectly by…Earth Movement…[which] means…[a]ny other earth movement including earth sinking, rising or shifting... caused by or resulting from human or animal forces.” Smith filed a cross-motion for partial summary judgment on the basis that the earth-movement exclusion did not preclude coverage because her insurance policy also contained a clause expressly covering water damage. Read the court decision
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    Reprinted courtesy of Anthony Hatzilabrou, Traub Lieberman
    Mr. Hatzilabrou may be contacted at thatzilabrou@tlsslaw.com

    Effective Allocation of Damages for Federal Contract Claims

    October 25, 2021 —
    Federal construction contracts law generally recognizes four basic methods for pricing damages: (1) Actual Cost Method (ACM); (2) Total Cost Method (TCM); (3) Modified Total Cost Method (MTCM); and (4) Jury Verdict Recovery Method (JVRM). In practice, it is difficult to obtain significant recoveries on TCM and JVRM claims, and only marginally easier on MTCM claims. That is because the courts and boards that hear federal government contracts cases have developed a clear preference for the ACM. Despite this preference, many contractors do not have systems in place to maximize their opportunity to recover damages under the ACM. This article introduces various strategies for tracking and allocating damages during project performance in a manner that will support an ACM analysis if a federal construction claim is litigated. Background: Four Basic Methods for Pricing Damages The four methods for pricing damages are described, below: 1. Actual Cost Method The actual cost method claims damages based on records of “actual costs” that were documented during the performance of the contract. All additional costs must be separately recorded from the costs incurred in the normal course of contract performance. Because contractors provide the court or board with documented underlying expenses under the actual cost method, courts and boards prefer this method. However, the actual cost method may not always be feasible where a contractor is confronted with drastic changes early and often in a project. Reprinted courtesy of Dirk D. Haire, Fox Rothschild LLP, Joseph L. Cohen, Fox Rothschild LLP and Jane Han, Fox Rothschild LLP Mr. Haire may be contacted at dhaire@foxrothschild.com Mr. Cohen may be contacted at jlcohen@foxrothschild.com Read the court decision
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    Colorado Drillers Show Sensitive Side to Woo Fracking Foes

    September 03, 2014 —
    A fight over fracking is looming in Texas. Another stand-off is shaping up in Colorado. Yet drillers’ reactions couldn’t be more different. In Texas, drillers are doing their noisy in-your-face fracking as usual. Meanwhile, on a small farm about an hour from the Colorado Rocky Mountains, the oil industry is giving fracking a makeover, cutting back on rumbling trucks and tamping down on pollution. Oil companies in Colorado are responding to a rising tide of resentment as local communities and environmental activists vie to impose measures to ban fracking or restrict drilling. A series of ballot initiatives and other grass roots opposition around the country is seen as threatening the booming shale industry, even in oil-friendly Texas, where the U.S. energy renaissance began. Reprinted courtesy of Zain Shauk, Bloomberg and Bradley Olson, Bloomberg Mr. Shauk may be contacted at zshauk@bloomberg.net; Mr. Olson may be contacted at bradleyolson@bloomberg.net Read the court decision
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    Canada Cooler Housing Market Boosts Poloz’s Soft Landing

    April 15, 2014 —
    Declines in housing starts and building permits data suggest Canada is headed for the soft landing in real estate that policy makers have forecast, damping concern that a rapid fall in home prices could hobble the world’s 11th-largest economy. Home construction dropped 18 percent in March to the lowest annual pace since the 2009 recession, Canada Mortgage & Housing Corp. said from Ottawa today. Residential building permits also dropped 21 percent in February from January’s record high, Statistics Canada said in a separate report. Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz has said the housing market is heading for a “soft landing” with consumer debts as a share of income stabilizing around record highs. The International Monetary Fund said today that house prices and household finances remain a “key vulnerability” for Canada. Read the court decision
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    Reprinted courtesy of Greg Quinn, Bloomberg
    Mr. Quinn may be contacted at gquinn1@bloomberg.net

    Los Angeles Delays ‘Mansion Tax’ Spending Amid Legal Fight

    April 25, 2023 —
    Los Angeles plans to hold off spending most of the money collected from a voter-approved “mansion tax” until legal challenges against the initiative are resolved. Mayor Karen Bass revealed in her 2023-24 budget plans that the city intends to allocate just $150 million of the funds raised by Proposition ULA, a ballot initiative that took effect this month to fund the construction of more affordable housing. The decision will prevent the city from taking a loss if a lawsuit succeeds in reversing the tax, according to budget documents released this week. The city anticipates it would qualify for $150 million in federal reimbursements to make up the amount. Read the court decision
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    Reprinted courtesy of Laura Curtis, Bloomberg

    Duty to Defend Negligent Misrepresentation Claim

    April 15, 2014 —
    The Kansas Court of Appeals determined that the insurer must defend claims of negligent misrepresentation against its insured. Central Power Sys. & Servs. v. Universal Underwriters Ins. Co., 2014 Kan. App. LEXIS 9 (Kan. Ct. App. Feb. 21, 2014). Central Power contracted to furnish Eagle Well with 10 oil-rig engines and 10 oil-rig transmissions. Eagle Well alleged that Central Power informed them that the engines and transmissions would be operational without any additional components. As is turned out, the engines could not operate without a wiring harness. Eagle Well had to hire a third party to make wiring harnesses that would meet their needs and to install the wiring harnesses. Eagle Wells sued Central Power, alleging damages in the form of lost profits for the time it took to make the engines independently operational. Further, damages were incurred due to money needed for the costs of purchasing the wiring harnesses from the third party and attaching the harnesses to the engines. Claims asserted against Central Power included breach of contract, negligence and negligent misrepresentation. Read the court decision
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    Reprinted courtesy of Tred R. Eyerly, Insurance Law Hawaii
    Mr. Eyerly may be contacted at te@hawaiilawyer.com

    Billion-Dollar Power Lines Finally Inching Ahead to Help US Grids

    April 03, 2023 —
    The biggest impediment to the US achieving a cleaner power grid isn't climate deniers or fossil-fuel lobbies; it’s a lack of transmission lines. The country badly needs more conduits to cart wind and solar energy and hydropower to cities. For more than a decade, multibillion-dollar power-line projects have struggled to advance, slowed or halted by bureaucracy, NIMBYism or general industry stasis. Now suddenly, several are progressing — and with them the prospect of newly unleashed clean energy as well as more resilient grids in the face of ever-dangerous storms and extreme heatwaves. There’s SunZia in the Southwest, TransWest Express in the Mountain West, Grain Belt Express to the Midwest, and Champlain Hudson Power Express into New York City — projects that together will cost at least $13 billion. Some are now ordering expensive equipment, a signal of their advancement. SunZia and TransWest expect to begin construction this year. Reprinted courtesy of Brian Eckhouse, Bloomberg, Naureen S Malik, Bloomberg and Dave Merrill, Bloomberg Read the court decision
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