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    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


    Changing Course Midstream Did Not Work in River Dredging Project

    PFAS: From Happy Mistake to Ubiquity to Toxic Liability (But is there coverage?)

    Just When You Thought the Green Building Risk Discussion Was Over. . .

    American Council of Engineering Companies of California Selects New Director

    Drafting the Bond Form, Particularly Performance Bond Form

    One More Mechanic’s Lien Number- the Number 30

    Michigan Court Waives Goodbye to Subrogation Claims, Except as to Gross Negligence

    GA Federal Court Holds That Jury, Not Judge, Generally Must Decide Whether Notice Was Given “As Soon as Practicable” Under First-Party Property Damage Policies

    Nevada HOA Criminal Investigation Moving Slowly

    Breaking the Impasse by Understanding Blame

    The NAR asks FAA to Amend their Drone Rules for Real Estate Use

    Agreement Authorizing Party’s Own Engineer to Determine Substantial Compliance Found Binding on Adverse Party

    Touchdown! – The Construction Industry’s Winning Audible to the COVID Blitz

    Does a No-Damage-for-Delay Clause Also Preclude Acceleration Damages?

    U.S. Codes for Deck Attachment

    The Future for Tall Buildings Could Be Greener

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

    New California Construction Laws for 2020

    Senate Committee Approves Military Construction Funds

    Why You May Not Want a Mandatory Mediation Clause in Your Construction Contract

    Millennium’s Englander Buys $71.3 Million Manhattan Co-Op

    Developer Boymelgreen Forced to Hand Over Financial Records for 15 Broad Street

    Residential Contractors, Be Sure to Have these Clauses in Your Contracts

    3M PFAS Water Settlement Could Reach $12.5B

    Small to Midsize Builders Making Profit on Overlooked Lots

    US Homes Face Costly Retrofits for Induction Stoves, EV Chargers

    Does the Implied Warranty of Habitability Extend to Subsequent Purchasers? Depends on the State

    California Court Holds No Coverage Under Pollution Policy for Structural Improvements

    The Prompt Payment Act Obligation is Not Triggered When the Owner Holds Less Retention from the General Contractor

    Meet the Forum's ADR Neutrals: LESLIE KING O'NEAL

    All Aboard! COVID-19 Securities Suit Sets Sail, Implicates D&O Insurance

    Pollution Exclusion Does Not Apply To Concrete Settling Dust

    Real Estate & Construction News Roundup (4/17/24) – Travel & Tourism Reach All-Time High, President Biden Emphasizes Housing in SOTU Address, and State Transportation Projects Under Scrutiny

    Note on First-Party and Third-Party Spoliation of Evidence Claims

    Summary Judgment in Construction Defect Case Cannot Be Overturned While Facts Are Still in Contention in Related Cases

    How Construction Contracts are Made. Hint: It’s a Bit Like Making Sausage

    What to do When the Worst Happens: Responding to a Cybersecurity Breach

    California Supreme Court Allows Claim Under Unfair Competition Statute To Proceed

    Build Me A Building As Fast As You Can

    Insurers Get “Floored” by Court of Appeals Regarding the Presumptive Measure of Damages in Consent Judgments

    Florida Law: Interplay of SIR and the Made-Whole Doctrine

    NJ Transit’s Superstorm Sandy Coverage Victory Highlights Complexities of Underwriting Property Insurance Towers

    How to Drop a New Building on Top of an Old One

    SDNY Vacates Arbitration Award for Party-Arbitrator’s Nondisclosures

    Consulting Firm Indicted and Charged with Falsifying Concrete Reports

    Client Alert: Absence of a Court Reporter at a Civil Motion Hearing May Preclude Appellate Review

    Read Her Lips: “No New Buildings”

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

    Remodel Gets Pricey for Town

    Perrin Construction Defect Claims & Trial Conference
    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

    I’m Sorry, So Sorry: Legal Implications of Apologies and Admissions of Fault for Delaware Healthcare Professionals

    March 12, 2015 —
    In July 1960, Brenda Lee had the number one hit song in America. The 15-year-old singer belted her heart out as she expressed her apologies singing:
    I'm sorry, so sorry
    That I was such a fool
    I didn't know
    Love could be so cruel
    Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-yes
    You tell me mistakes
    Are part of being young
    But that don't right
    The wrong that's been done
    Views vary about whether a healthcare professional should convey an apology to a patient or patient’s family when treatment does not go as expected. The fear is that these words will be misconstrued as an admission of error that could make a negligence claim more likely, or at least make the claim, if it comes, harder to defend. In Delaware, the law provides some level of protection to such communications, but as a recent case illustrates, that protection is not absolute because the relevant statute makes an important distinction between an expression of apology, sympathy or condolence, and an admission of fault. So, if you are going to apologize, you are well advised to choose your words carefully. Reprinted courtesy of John D. Balaguer, White and Williams LLP and Christine Kane, White and Williams LLP Mr. Balaguer may be contacted at balaguerj@whiteandwilliams.com Ms. Kane may be contacted at kanec@whiteandwilliams.com Read the court decision
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    Reprinted courtesy of

    Affordable Housing, Military Contracts and Mars: 3D Printing Construction Potential Builds

    September 05, 2022 —
    The 3D printing construction market is likely on the cusp of a boom. This unique construction method boasts many advantages in comparison to traditional forms of construction. Projects can be completed more quickly and at a fraction of the cost, given fewer laborers are required and the materials used are much cheaper. Though market growth stalled during the COVID-19 pandemic, industry leaders expect 3D printing construction to experience exponential growth in the coming years. While 3D printing technology has risen in popularity and prominence in the past couple of decades, it is only recently that 3D printing companies have begun making strides in the construction industry. Critical to the construction process is the software that is used to create and model the planned structure. A software program turns a building’s blueprint into code that then dictates the movement of a 3D printer on the construction site. After a concrete-like mix is loaded into the printer, the printer begins to build the walls by laying one cylindrical layer of concrete at a time, in accordance with the blueprint. There is no one-size-fits-all approach in 3D printing construction: some companies print the core structure as well as the roof and floor of the structure, while others print only the core and shell and install those portions separately using traditional methods and materials. Reprinted courtesy of Adam J. Weaver, Pillsbury and Lindsey Mitchell, Pillsbury Mr. Weaver may be contacted at adam.weaver@pillsburylaw.com Read the court decision
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    Reprinted courtesy of

    “A No-Lose Proposition?”

    October 07, 2024 —
    A Miller Act payment bond surety and its principal general contractor both sued in federal court in New Orleans by a project subcontractor sought to compel arbitration the claims against both contractor and surety based on an indisputably enforceable arbitration clause in the subcontract. This was urged to avoid separate actions against the contractor (arbitration) and its surety (litigation), even though the surety was not a party to the subcontract and, therefore, not a party to the arbitration clause. In the face of the lack of an express agreement to arbitrate, the contractor and contractor argued that “no federal statute or policy prohibits all of Plaintiff’s claims from proceeding to arbitration….” Additionally, those parties urged that the surety should be allowed to affirmatively compel arbitration because the surety “would otherwise have the ability to assert the right to compel arbitration as a defense….” The New Orleans federal district court was unpersuaded:
    “[D]istrict courts within this circuit have recognized that ‘Miller Act claims by a subcontractor for unpaid labor and materials are separate and distinct from those for general breach of contract… [and] arbitration and Miller Act suits, are not, per se, inconsistent with one another.’…[A]bsent express contractual intent to subject Miller Act claims to arbitration, the court [will] not force the parties to arbitrate claims against nonparties to the contract at issue…. [C]laims against a surety, which was a non-signatory to the contract, would not be subject to arbitration without any contractual basis to do so.”
    Read the court decision
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    Reprinted courtesy of Daniel Lund III, Phelps
    Mr. Lund may be contacted at daniel.lund@phelps.com

    Documentation Important for Defending Construction Defect Claims

    November 27, 2013 —
    When insurers are faced with a construction defect claim, they want information. Unfortunately, insurers “typically struggle to find the documents we need to understand what exactly happened and why it happened,” according to Robert Kreuzer, second vice president of construction risk control for Travelers. “The documents are either not there, or they’re inaccurate, or we can’t find them.” Not only does it make determining what happened more difficult, it also slows downs the litigation process. Mr. Kreuzer also noted that by properly documenting and maintaining documents, “you have a better chance of getting yourself out of the dispute, and avoiding that 11-year headache.” Read the court decision
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    Reprinted courtesy of

    Traub Lieberman Partner Colleen Hastie Wins Summary Judgment in Favor of Sub-Contracted Electrical Company

    February 14, 2023 —
    In a case brought before the New York State Supreme Court, Kings County, Plaintiff alleged injury while performing work at a commercial premises in Brooklyn when he rolled his ankle on a jackhammered/chopped cellar floor slab while carrying a metal pipe from the main floor to the cellar on the subject premises. The property was owned by New York City entities, who were listed as Defendants in the underlying suit. A Construction Company was hired as the general contractor and construction manager for the work, who hired the Electrical Contractor to perform the main electrical fit out for the subject premises. The Electrical Contractor then hired Traub Lieberman’s client, the Electrical Subcontractor, to work on cellar-level conduit, cabling, backboxes, and lighting control systems. The Electrical Contractor, as Second Third-Party Plaintiff, brought suit against the Electrical Subcontractor, as Second Third-Party Defendant, for damages related to the underlying suit. Read the court decision
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    Reprinted courtesy of Colleen E. Hastie, Traub Lieberman
    Ms. Hastie may be contacted at chastie@tlsslaw.com

    2022 Construction Outlook: Continuing Growth But at Slower Pace

    January 24, 2022 —
    In the midst of a pandemic that has lasted far longer than I think many of us thought it would, it’s been a study in contrasts:
    • There has been over 305 million COVID-19 cases and 5.5 million deaths worldwide since the start of the pandemic.
    • The U.S. stock market gained a whopping 26.9% in 2021.
    • The annual rate of inflation in the U.S. hit 6.8% in November 2021 the highest it has been in nearly 40 years.
    • The U.S. unemployment rate stood at 4.2% at the end of 2021, down from 14.7% in April 2020, the second highest unemployment rate since the Great Depression.
    • The Doomsday Clock struck 100 seconds before midnight in 2021 as scientists warn that global leaders are doing too little too late to combat climate change that has seen global temperatures rise roughly 2 degrees Fahrenheit since the pre-industrial era.
    • 2021 saw the launch of the first all-civilian spaceflight by Elon Musk’s Space X which was just one of 16 private spaceflights by tech billionaires Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin.
    For the construction industry, when we started out in 2021, economists were estimating that construction starts would be up just 4% in 2021 after taking a 14% free-fall in 2020. As it turned out, construction starts increased 12% in 2021. That’s why economic forecasts should be viewed less like a marksmanship competition and more like horseshoes and hand grenades. Close is about the best you can realistically hope for. Read the court decision
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    Reprinted courtesy of Garret Murai, Nomos LLP
    Mr. Murai may be contacted at gmurai@nomosllp.com

    Insurers Need only Prove that Other Coverage Exists for Construction Defect Claims

    August 27, 2013 —
    Writing on the Sheppard Mullin web site, Scott Hennigh looks at the implications of the 2012 California case Axis Surplus Insurance. A condominium complex was covered by two insurance policies, covering different time periods. During a construction defect claim, one insurer argued that the claim was not covered. The other insurer settled and sued that both needed to contribute to the settlement. The court held that when multiple insurers are in conflict, the burden to prove that coverage does not exist lies solely on the party claiming it. Read the court decision
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    Reprinted courtesy of

    Court Dismisses Cross Claims Against Utility Based on Construction Anti-Indemnity Statute

    August 14, 2018 —
    When a plane crashed and several passengers and crew died or were injured, their representatives sued several defendants, including a nearby plant owner, Milliken & Company (“Plant Owner”), based on claims that transmission lines on Plant Owner’s property were too close to the runways, were too high, and encroached on the airport easements. Plant Owner cross claimed against utility owner, Georgia Power Company (“Utility”). Plant Owner’s claim was based on an easement it granted to Utility, which required Utility to indemnify it for any claims arising out of Utility’s construction or maintenance of the transmission lines. In defense, Utility argued that the easement’s indemnity provision violated Georgia’s construction anti-indemnity statute. Read the court decision
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    Reprinted courtesy of David R. Cook, Autry, Hall & Cook, LLP
    Mr. Cook may be contacted at cook@ahclaw.com