BERT HOWE
  • Nationwide: (800) 482-1822    
    office building building expert Seattle Washington custom home building expert Seattle Washington low-income housing building expert Seattle Washington townhome construction building expert Seattle Washington industrial building building expert Seattle Washington condominium building expert Seattle Washington landscaping construction building expert Seattle Washington tract home building expert Seattle Washington Medical building building expert Seattle Washington retail construction building expert Seattle Washington institutional building building expert Seattle Washington structural steel construction building expert Seattle Washington casino resort building expert Seattle Washington housing building expert Seattle Washington multi family housing building expert Seattle Washington Subterranean parking building expert Seattle Washington condominiums building expert Seattle Washington hospital construction building expert Seattle Washington custom homes building expert Seattle Washington parking structure building expert Seattle Washington mid-rise construction building expert Seattle Washington concrete tilt-up building expert Seattle Washington
    Seattle Washington construction project management expert witnessesSeattle Washington reconstruction expert witnessSeattle Washington eifs expert witnessSeattle Washington expert witness commercial buildingsSeattle Washington building code expert witnessSeattle Washington construction expert witnessesSeattle Washington construction experts
    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


    Defective Concrete Blocks Spell Problems for Donegal Homeowners

    Insurance for Defective Construction Now in Third Edition

    JD Supra’s 2017 Reader’s Choice Awards

    D.R. Horton Profit Beats Estimates as Home Sales Jumped

    Kahana Feld Welcomes Six Attorneys to the Firm in Q4 of 2023

    Indemnitor Owes Indemnity Even Where Indemnitee is Actively Negligent, California Court Holds

    Nondelegable Duties

    Construction Litigation Roundup: “Stop - In the Name of the Law!”

    No Coverage for Contractor's Faulty Workmanship

    Insurer in Bad Faith For Refusing to Commit to Appraisal

    Spain Risks €10.6 Billion Flood Damage Bill, Sanchez Says

    Insured's Expert Qualified, Judgment for Coverage Affirmed

    Questions of Fact Regarding Collapse of Basement Walls Prevent Insurer's Motion for Summary Judgment

    Pennsylvania Modernizes State Building Code

    Warranty of Workmanship and Habitability Cannot Be Disclaimed or Waived Under Any Circumstance

    ASCE and Accelerator for America Release Map to Showcase Projects from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

    How Technology Reduces the Risk of Façade Defects

    Limitations: There is a Point of No Return

    New York City Council’s Carbon Emissions Regulation Opposed by Real Estate Board

    Record Keeping—the Devil’s in the Details

    Additional Elements a Plaintiff Must Plead and Prove to Enforce Restrictive Covenant

    Is Solar the Next Focus of Construction Defect Suits?

    Jury Trials: A COVID Update

    Lease-Leaseback Battle Continues as First District Court of Appeals Sides with Contractor and School District

    North Miami Beach Rejects as Incomplete 2nd Engineering Inspection Report From Evacuated Condo

    Travelers’ 3rd Circ. Win Curbs Insurers’ Asbestos Exposure

    Rebuilding the West: Construction Considerations After the Smoke Clears

    Contractor Definition Central to Coverage Dispute

    Nonresidential Construction Employment Expands in August, Says ABC

    Landmark Montana Supreme Court Decision Series: The Duty to Defend

    The Almost-Collapse of a Sarasota, Florida Condo Building

    Will the Hidden Cracks in the Bay Bridge Cause Problems During an Earthquake?

    Quick Note: Expert Testimony – Back to the Frye Test in Florida

    Grad Student Sues UC Santa Cruz over Mold in Residence

    BofA Said to Near Mortgage Deal for Up to $17 Billion

    The Importance of Preliminary Notices on Private Works Projects

    2017 Legislative Changes Affecting the Construction Industry

    U.K. High Court COVID-19 Victory for Policyholders May Set a Trend in the U.S.

    Wichita Condo Association Files Construction Defect Lawsuit

    Janus v. AFSCME

    Future Environmental Rulemaking Proceedings Listed in the Spring 2019 Unified Federal Agenda

    Kaboom! Illinois Applies the Anti-Subrogation Rule to Require a Landlord’s Subrogating Property Insurer to Defend a Third-Party Complaint Against Tenants

    Homeowners Sued for Failing to Disclose Defects

    NY Is Set To Sue US EPA Over ‘Completion’ of PCB Removal

    Difference Between a Novation And A Modification to a Contract

    Sweat the Small Stuff – Don’t Overlook These Three (3) Clauses When Negotiating Your Construction Contract

    Do We Really Want Courts Deciding if Our Construction Contracts are Fair?

    Owners and Contractors are Liable for Injuries Caused by their Independent Contractors under the “Peculiar Risk Doctrine”

    Montana Supreme Court: Insurer Not Bound by Insured's Settlement

    The Choice Is Yours – Or Is It? Anti-Choice-of-Laws Statutes Applicable to Construction Contracts
    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. Drawing 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

    Pre-Covid Construction Contracts Unworkable as Costs Surge, Webuild Says

    October 17, 2022 —
    Infrastructure construction contracts signed before the pandemic have become widely unworkable because of the surging cost of labor and materials, supply-chain blockages and difficulties in securing manpower, according to builder Webuild SpA. Milan-based Webuild is wrestling with a 2019 agreement with the Australian government to construct the country’s largest hydroelectric power station for A$5.1 billion ($3.2 billion). It’s meant to be completed by 2026. The Snowy 2.0 project, in the Snowy mountains about six hours’ drive south of Sydney, has come to highlight the challenges of completing large-scale projects on terms that were struck before Covid-19, and before Russia invaded Ukraine. Webuild’s Asia-Pacific director, Marco Assorati, said the value of the Snowy contract, as well as certain other parameters, need to be changed to reflect the current market. He declined to comment specifically on media reports that the consortium has asked the Australian government for an extra A$2.2 billion to complete the work and that the project is 18 months behind schedule. “It is challenging,” Assorati said. “I think clients understand this conversation must happen and there must be a way to cope with unforeseen increases in cost,” Assorati said. “It’s not needed only on the Snowy project. It’s affecting projects everywhere globally.” Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of Angus Whitley, Bloomberg

    Former Hoboken, New Jersey Mayor Disbarred for Taking Bribes

    September 17, 2014 —
    The New Jersey Law Journal reported that Peter Cammarano III, a former Hoboken, New Jersey, mayor, was disbarred after admitting “four years ago that he took $25,000 in bribes from a federal informant in exchange for promising his help in getting approval for a high-rise.” Cammarano “was one of 44 public officials and rabbis arrested in July 2009 as part of a massive federal investigation, known as Operation Bid Rig, into public corruption and money laundering operations.” The Disciplinary review board had recommended a three year suspension, however, the New Jersey Supreme Court rejected that recommendation. “An elected official who sells his office—who offers favored treatment in exchange for money—betrays a solemn public trust,” Justice Barry Albin wrote for the court, as quoted by the New Jersey Law Journal. “This form of corruption is corrosive to our democracy and undermines public confidence in honest government, and its rippling pernicious effects are incalculable.” “I believe the Disciplinary Review Board’s decision was right,” Joseph Jr. Hayden, Cammarano’s attorney, told the New Jersey Law Journal. “There were sufficient mitigating factors to justify only a suspension.” Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of

    Recommendations for Property Owners After A Hurricane: Submit a Claim

    October 04, 2021 —
    If you suffered damage as a result of a hurricane, you should submit a claim under any insurance policy you have that might apply. This includes:
    • Flood insurance
    • Homeowner’s insurance
    • Renter’s insurance
    • Condo insurance
    • Auto insurance
    Steps for Handling Your Hurricane Insurance Claim
    1. Submit Your Claim. As soon as possible, provide a written notice of claim to your insurer according to the notice provision of your policy. Keep a copy for your records. If you don’t have a copy of your policy, call the insurance company, ask them how to submit your claim, and request a copy of your policy.
    Reprinted courtesy of Kelly A. Johnson, Saxe Doernberger & Vita, Stephanie A. Giagnorio, Saxe Doernberger & Vita and Gregory D. Podolak, Saxe Doernberger & Vita Ms. Johnson may be contacted at KJohnson@sdvlaw.com Ms. Giagnorio may be contacted at SGiagnorio@sdvlaw.com Mr. Podolak may be contacted at GPodolak@sdvlaw.com Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of

    Don’t Waive Too Much In Your Mechanic’s Lien Waiver

    December 22, 2019 —
    In the past few years, the Virginia General Assembly has, with certain caveats, precluded pre-furnishing waiver of mechanic’s lien rights. While this essentially outlawed the types of mechanic’s lien waiver clauses that pervaded construction contracts in Virginia, the key to the previous sentence is “pre-furnishing.” What the General Assembly left intact were the usual waivers of mechanic’s lien rights typically required to be provided to Owners and others in the payment chain in exchange for payment. These lien waivers come in a few “flavors” from conditional to unconditional, partial to full. Their terms usually include an acknowledgement of receipt of payment (we’ll get to this later), and a statement that the one seeking payment knows of no possible claims by lower tier subcontractors and then waives all mechanic’s lien rights against the property for work performed and included in the request for payment. Often over my years as a Virginia construction attorney, I have noticed that these waivers are often signed without comment or review. They are just part of the process and more often than not are not even an issue for most projects. Of course, if they are an issue they can be a big one, and their terms can come back to bite a claimant that has not properly vetted them. The first potential issue is waiving lien rights while acknowledging receipt prior to actual receipt of the check or wire. Many of the waiver forms that are out there list a payment amount, or possibly simply state that the waiver is in exchange for some small payment, and then state “receipt of which is acknolwedged” or something similar. The issue here is that receipt may not have happened yet because these lien waivers are submitted as part of the payment package in order to get paid in the first place. In short, should you sign the waiver prior to payment, you may have acknowledged a non-event and in the event of non-payment have a written document stating that you waived your claim to a lien for that money. What a court would do with this, I am unsure, but why risk it? My advice, be sure your waiver is contingent on actual clearance of payment as well as receipt. Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of The Law Office of Christopher G. Hill
    Mr. Hill may be contacted at chrisghill@constructionlawva.com

    Fannie-Freddie Elimination Model in Apartments: Mortgages

    April 08, 2014 —
    The apartment-lending units of Fannie Mae (FNMA) and Freddie Mac were among their few money makers after the U.S. housing collapse. Now they should help transform the U.S. mortgage industry. Lawmakers seeking to eliminate the two government lenders, which were seized by regulators during the 2008 credit crisis, see an antidote to the reckless lending that blew up the U.S. housing market in the structure of the firms’ multifamily operations, which share risks with lenders. Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Johnson and Republican Mike Crapo are proposing legislation to create a new government-backed reinsurer of mortgage bonds that would require private investors to bear losses on the first 10 percent of capital. The model for the provision mirrors Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (FMCC)’s multifamily lending operations, requiring lenders to shoulder some of the risk on loans they originate. Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of Sarah Mulholland, Bloomberg
    Ms. Mulholland may be contacted at smulholland3@bloomberg.net

    Cable-Free Elevators Will Soar to New Heights, and Move Sideways

    January 14, 2015 —
    I live in one of the few buildings in New York that still has a manual elevator. When I ask the operator on the morning shift how he's doing, his well-oiled response is "up and down." For the last 160 years, elevators have travelled a predictably vertical path. That will soon change when the German manufacturer ThyssenKrupp introduces the first fleet of cable-free cars that can also move sideways. The system, dubbed MULTI, will allow multiple cabs to motor along a single, looping shaft. The cars move by magnetic levitation (the same technology behind some high-speed trains), rather than being pulled by the heavy steel ropes that limit how high skyscrapers can stretch. With MULTI, architects will be able to build spindly towers on small plots formerly deemed untenable for high-rises. Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of Belinda Lanks, Bloomberg
    Ms. Lanks may be contacted at blanks@bloomberg.net

    Why a Challenge to Philadelphia’s Project Labor Agreement Would Be Successful

    February 22, 2018 —
    There is a common misconception that all Philadelphia Public Works projects must be performed pursuant to a project labor agreement with various members of the Building and Construction Trades Council. This common misconception is even shared by the current Mayoral administration, who I saw in a recent court filing testified under oath that “project labor agreements are required for all construction projects in Philadelphia with a value of at least five million dollars.” (As is discussed below this is flat out false.) No one has yet to step forward to challenge Philadelphia’s project labor agreement scheme. However, if someone did, I think the challenge would be successful for three reasons. First, contrary to the Mayor’s representative’s statement, there is no requirement that all projects in excess of $5 million be subject to a project labor agreement. Second, Philadelphia’s project labor agreement excludes signatories to collective bargaining agreements with the United Steel Workers (USW) from participating, which violates public bid laws. Third, the exclusion of the USW, also gives rise to a challenge that federal labor law preempts the project labor agreement. A. Background on the Philadelphia PLA. Under a project labor agreement (PLA), a contractor wishing to perform work on a project agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of employment established by the public owner and certain construction unions. Each PLA varies, but typically PLA’s will require a contractor’s employees to become members of a union – if they are already not members – in order to work on a project or will require a contractor to hire labor from a union hiring hall. PLA’s are controversial because they exclude non-union contractors from performing work on a project subject to a PLA, unless of course that contractor agrees to become “union” for purposes of that project. For reasons beyond this blog post, a merit shop contractor would be crazy to do that. The “Philadelphia PLA” that Mayor Kenney believes is required for all public projects over $5 million was instituted by Mayor Nutter through a 2011 Executive Order(Executive Order No. 15-11, Public Works Project Labor Agreements). Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of Wally Zimolong, Zimolong LLC
    Mr. Zimolong may be contacted at wally@zimolonglaw.com

    Inspectors Hurry to Make Sure Welds Are Right before Bay Bridge Opening

    August 27, 2013 —
    Each of the 20 welds at the base of the tower of the Bay Bridge took more than four hours to complete, with the lengthy welds forming at one-and-a-half inches per minute. They’ve been finished for two years now, but inspectors are just now checking the welds for defects. Any defects found will have to be removed and repaired. Mazen Wahbeh, an engineer on the project, assumes that less than 5 percent of the total welded area will have to be repaired. According to Wahbeh, the bridge can open before the welds are thoroughly checked and repaired, and so “the contractor is prioritizing the remaining work.” Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of