BERT HOWE
  • Nationwide: (800) 482-1822    
    Subterranean parking building expert Seattle Washington mid-rise construction building expert Seattle Washington Medical building building expert Seattle Washington condominium building expert Seattle Washington office building building expert Seattle Washington retail construction building expert Seattle Washington parking structure building expert Seattle Washington landscaping construction building expert Seattle Washington casino resort building expert Seattle Washington high-rise construction building expert Seattle Washington tract home building expert Seattle Washington multi family housing building expert Seattle Washington concrete tilt-up building expert Seattle Washington custom homes building expert Seattle Washington custom home building expert Seattle Washington industrial building building expert Seattle Washington institutional building building expert Seattle Washington housing building expert Seattle Washington townhome construction building expert Seattle Washington structural steel construction building expert Seattle Washington production housing building expert Seattle Washington low-income housing building expert Seattle Washington
    Seattle Washington architectural expert witnessSeattle Washington expert witness structural engineerSeattle Washington architecture expert witnessSeattle Washington slope failure expert witnessSeattle Washington roofing construction expertSeattle Washington construction scheduling and change order evaluation expert witnessSeattle Washington roofing and waterproofing 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


    Appellate Division Confirms Summary Judgment in Favor of Property Owners in Action Alleging Labor Law Violations

    Construction Litigation Roundup: “This Is Sufficient for Your Purposes …”

    Doctrine of Avoidable Consequences as Affirmative Defense

    If a Defect Occurs During Construction, Is It an "Occurrence?"

    Reduce Suicide Risk Among Employees in Remote Work Areas

    Will Future Megacities Be a Marvel or a Mess? Look at New Delhi

    Construction Contract Terms Matter. Be Careful When You Draft Them.

    Bid Protests: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (Redeux)

    Insurer's Withheld Discovery Must be Produced in Bad Faith Case

    Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court Holds that Nearly All Project Labor Agreements are Illegal

    Contractor Sues License Board

    It’s Getting Harder and Harder to be a Concrete Supplier in California

    HOA Coalition Statement on Construction-Defects Transparency Legislation

    No Coverage For Construction Defect Under Illinois Law

    Harmon Towers to Be Demolished without Being Finished

    25 Days After Explosion, Another Utility Shuts Off Gas in Boston Area

    Florida extends the Distressed Condominium Relief Act

    Insurer Not Bound by Decision in Underlying Case Where No Collateral Estoppel

    Coyness is Nice. Just Not When Seeking a Default Judgment

    Hunton Andrews Kurth Insurance Attorney, Latosha M. Ellis, Honored by Business Insurance Magazine

    Contrasting Expert Opinions Result in Denial of Cross Motions for Summary Judgment

    Consider the Risks Associated with an Exculpatory Clause

    Construction Litigation Roundup: “Give a Little Extra …”

    Let it Shine: California Mandates Rooftop Solar for New Residential Construction

    Another Way a Mechanic’s Lien Protects You

    Not in My Kitchen – California Supreme Court Decertifies Golden State Boring Case

    How I Prevailed on a Remote Jury Trial

    California Judicial Council Votes to Rescind Prohibitions on Eviction and Foreclosure Proceedings

    SunEdison Gets Shinsei Bank Funding for Japan Solar Power Plant

    When Is a Project Delay Material and Actionable?

    Key Economic & Geopolitical Themes To Monitor In 2024

    Professional Liability Alert: Joint Client Can't Claim Privilege For Communications With Attorney Sued By Another Joint Client

    Tax Increase Pumps $52 Billion Into California Construction

    U.S. Homeownership Rate Rises for First Time in Two Years

    Unions Win Prevailing Wage Challenge Brought By Charter Cities: Next Stop The Supreme Court?

    Ortega Outbids Pros to Build $10 Billion Property Empire

    Are You Ready For 2015?

    Repairs to Water Infrastructure Underway After Hurricane Helene

    Loss Caused by Subcontractor's Faulty Work Covered in Georgia

    Be Aware of Two New Statutes that Became Effective May 1, 2021

    Thanks to All for the 2024 Super Lawyers Nod!

    In Contracts, One Word Makes All the Difference

    Oregon Supreme Court Confirms Broad Duty to Defend

    When Business is Personal: Negligent and Intentional Interference Claims

    One to Watch: Case Takes on Economic Loss Rule and Professional Duties

    Five Years of Great Legal Blogging at Insurance Law Hawaii

    Court of Appeals Finds Additional Insured Coverage Despite “Care, Custody or Control” Exclusion

    Congratulations to Walnut Creek Partner Bryan Stofferahn and Associate Jeffrey Schilling for Winning a Motion for Summary Judgment on Behalf of Their Client, a Regional Grocery Store!

    Chicago Criticized for Not Maintaining Elevator Inspections

    Cogently Written Opinion Finds Coverage for Loss Caused By Defective Concrete
    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

    Australian Developer Denies Building Problems Due to Construction Defects

    June 15, 2011 —

    The Sunland Group, the developer, is objecting to claims that it is responsible for corrosion damage in a residential building in Gold Coast, Australia, as reported in the Courier & Mail. Residents of Q1, the world’s tallest residential tower, are suing the developer, claiming that defects and corrosion “compromise the long-term durability and appearance of” the six-year-old building.

    The developer has not only denied that there are defects in the building, but has also stated that the construction contract “did not warrant that the construction would be defects-free.” Sunland claimed that corrosion was due to the homeowners association having “failed to carry out the maintenance requirements.”

    Repair of the building is expected to cost millions of dollars. Sunland denies that it should pay any of that.

    Read the full story…

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

    Candis Jones Named to Atlanta Magazine’s 2021 “Atlanta 500” List

    March 01, 2021 —
    Atlanta Partner Candis Jones has been named to Atlanta Magazine’s 2021 “Atlanta 500” list of the most powerful business leaders in Atlanta. To compile this list, the publication reviewed nominations from the public and consulted experts across various sectors. The magazine’s editors and writers considered not only the status of the nominees within their respective organizations, but also whether the nominees were visionary by, for example, leading programs for their communities or creating opportunities for employees. Ms. Jones is a member of Lewis Brisbois’ General Liability Practice. Representing a wide array of clients, including Fortune 500 companies, insurance carriers, and a major metropolitan transit authority, she focuses her practice on insurance defense, premises liability, personal injury, and medical malpractice. She was recently installed as the President of the Gate City Bar Association, the oldest African-American bar association in the state of Georgia, and also serves as a member of the Georgia Defense Lawyers Association and the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys. Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of Candis Jones, Lewis Brisbois
    Ms. Jones may be contacted at Candis.Jones@lewisbrisbois.com

    Senate Committee Approves Military Construction Funds

    June 29, 2011 —

    With a decrease in funding, as compared to the House bill, the Military Construction and Veteran’s Affairs subcommittee of the Senate moved on a $72 billion construction bill. The House version had approved an additional half billion dollars in funding. Senator Tim Johnson, Democrat of South Carolina, said that he expected easy reconciliation with the House version. The Senate bill will move to the full Senate Appropriations Committee on June 30.

    The bill, S 1255, includes funding for construction and remodeling of military housing, as well as construction and remodeling of base facilities.

    Read the full story…

    Read S1255

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

    The Washington Supreme Court Rules that a Holder of a Certificate of Insurance Is Entitled to Coverage

    March 09, 2020 —
    The Washington courts have historically found that the purpose of a certificate of insurance is to advise others as to the existence of insurance, but that a certificate is not the equivalent of an insurance policy. However, the Washington State Supreme Court recently held that, under certain circumstances, an insurer may be bound by the representations that its insurance agent makes in a certificate of insurance as to the additional insured (“AI”) status of a third party. Specifically, in T-Mobile USA, Inc. v. Selective Ins. Co. of America, the Supreme Court found that where an insurance agent had erroneously indicated in a certificate of insurance that an entity was an AI under a liability policy, that entity would be considered as an AI based upon the agent’s apparent authority, despite boilerplate disclaimer language contained in the certificate. T-Mobile USA, Inc. v. Selective Ins. Co. of America, Slip. Op. No. 96500-5, 2019 WL 5076647 (Wash. Oct. 10, 2019). In this case, Selective Insurance Company of America (“Selective”) issued a liability policy to a contractor who had been retained by T-Mobile Northeast (“T-Mobile NE”) to construct a cell tower. The policy conferred AI status to a third party if the insured-contractor had agreed in a written contract to add the third party as an AI to the policy. Under the terms of the subject construction contract, the contractor was required to name T-Mobile NE as an AI under the policy. T-Mobile NE was therefore properly considered as an AI because the contractor was required to provide AI coverage to T-Mobile NE under the terms of their contract. However, over the course of approximately seven years, Selective’s own insurance agent issued a series of certificates of insurance that erroneously identified a different company, “T-Mobile USA”, as an AI under the policy. This was in error because there was no contractual requirement that T-Mobile USA be added as an AI. Nonetheless, the certificates stated that T-Mobile USA was an AI, and they were signed by the agent as Selective’s “authorized representative.” Reprinted courtesy of Sally S. Kim, Gordon & Rees and Kyle J. Silk-Eglit, Gordon & Rees Ms. Kim may be contacted at sallykim@grsm.com Mr. Silk-Eglit may be contacted at ksilkeglit@grsm.com Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of

    Drones, Googleplexes and Hyperloops

    March 05, 2015 —
    I don’t know if it’s just me, or if there has been a lot of news lately about technology and construction:
    Although flying in the face of some bad press recently, the use of drones in construction. And we’re talking about more than just cameras with propellers.
    Battle of the (tech) Titans, as Google battles it out with the likes of LinkedIn and Microsoft for development rights in Mountain View, California for its futuristic new Googleplex. And we’re talking about more than just cameras with propellers.. And Google is only the most recent tech titan with development plans. Facebook’s Frank Gehry-designed campus expansion is in the works and Apple’s “spaceship” campus has already broken ground. We’ve come a long way since the HP garage in Palo Alto, baby!
    Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of Garret Murai, Wendel Rosen Black & Dean LLP
    Mr. Murai may be contacted at gmurai@wendel.com

    Chambers USA 2023 Recognizes Six Partners and Three Practices at Lewis Brisbois

    June 19, 2023 —
    New York, N.Y. (June 6, 2023) – Six Lewis Brisbois partners and three Lewis Brisbois practices were recently ranked by Chambers in its 2023 USA rankings list. Kansas City & Wichita Managing Partner Alan L. Rupe and Phoenix Managing Partner Carl F. Mariano were both ranked Band 1 for “Labor & Employment – Kansas” and “Insurance – Arizona,” respectively. Phoenix Partner Gina M. Bartoszek was ranked Band 2 for “Insurance – Arizona.” Washington, D.C. Managing Partner Jane C. Luxton and Minneapolis Partner Tina A. Syring were both ranked Band 4 for “Environment – District of Columbia” and “Labor & Employment – Minnesota,” respectively. Additionally, Washington, D.C. & Fort Lauderdale Partner J. Mario Fontes, Jr. was ranked Band 5 for “Corporate/M&A & Private Equity – Florida: South.” Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of Lewis Brisbois

    Eleven WSHB Lawyers Honored on List of 2016 Rising Stars

    July 28, 2016 —
    Wood Smith Henning & Berman LLP (WSHB) announced that eleven of their attorneys were recognized on the list of 2016 Rising Stars. According to their press release, “The attorneys honored on the Rising Stars list are 40 years or younger and demonstrate the finest qualities of a good lawyer: first-rate legal skills, preparation, judgment, creativity, dedication and ethics. No more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in each state are named to Rising Stars.” The WSHB lawyers on the list practice out of Southern California, Northern California, the Pacific Northwest, Arizona, and Florida, and include Raymond Babaian, Emil Macasinag, Amy Pennington, Christopher Perez, Keith Smith, Kevin Gillispie, Alicia Kennon, Eugene Zinovyev, Timothyf Repass, Jodi Mullis, and Vincent Beilman. “We are pleased to have 11 of our best selected for this year’s lists,” said Dan Berman, Firm Chairman and Founding Partner. “We value our selections to Rising Stars because the choices come from our peers. It is truly an honor and a validation of all of the great work we do at WSHB.” Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of

    The Double-Breasted Dilemma

    July 18, 2022 —
    What Is A Double-Breasted Operation? A double-breasted operation is when a firm has two entities, and one entity performs work under collective bargaining agreements and the other does not. While this type of operation is not outright prohibited, it is often subject to a variety of challenges and scrutiny. To legally run a double-breasted operation, the two companies must remain separate and distinct. If the companies are not sufficiently separate and distinct from one another, the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) or a court may find that the two companies are operating as a single entity or that the non-union company, or also known as the open shop, is merely an alter ego of the union company and, therefore, bound by the terms of the collective bargaining agreement. In order to determine whether the companies are sufficiently separate and distinct, the two entities must pass either the single employer test or the alter ego test depending on the nature of the double-breasted operation. Typically, the single employer test is used when the two entities run parallel operations, and the alter ego test is used when the open shop replaces the union company. Under the single employer test, the NLRB or courts will generally consider four factors: (1) the interrelation of operations; (2) common management; (3) common control of labor relations; and (4) common ownership. The alter ego test does not require a finding that the companies are a single bargaining unit, but analyzes to what extent the two entities have substantially identical management, business operation and purpose, business equipment, customers, and ownership. While common ownership is a factor considered under both the single employer and alter ego tests, common ownership alone is not dispositive of whether the companies are sufficiently separate and distinct. In other words, the NLRB and courts do not simply look for common ownership to determine whether the double-breasted operation is lawful. It is merely one of many factors to consider. Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of Lauren E. Rankins, Watt, Tieder, Hoffar & Fitzgerald, LLP (ConsensusDocs)
    Ms. Rankins may be contacted at lrankins@watttieder.com