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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.


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    A license is required for plumbing, and electrical trades. Businesses must register with the Secretary of State.


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    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
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    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.

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    Seattle, Washington

    A Sample Itinerary to get the Most out of West Coast Casualty’s Construction Defect Seminar

    May 03, 2018 —
    With so many worthwhile events stretched across three days, as well as wanting to get out and explore the many attractions in Orange County, California, Construction Defect Journal has come up with a sample itinerary that balances work with recreation. Day One: Wednesday, May 16th 9:00 a.m. – Breakfast at Steakhouse 55 (Disneyland Hotel) Meet up with colleagues at Disney’s Steakhouse 55 where you will find a more peaceful and upscale venue, perfect for networking or just catching up with friends. 10:00 a.m. - Madara Spa at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel With a free morning, this is the perfect time to take advantage of one of the Disneyland Resort’s pools or schedule a massage at the Madara Spa located within the Grand Californian Hotel. 11:30 a.m. – Grab and Go Lunch at The Coffee House (Disneyland Hotel) Refuel with a salad or sandwich from one of Disneyland Resort’s quick service restaurants. 12:00 p.m. – Seminar Registration and Schwag Hunting Start heading over to the seminar to register and be one of the first to check out the amazing exhibitors and grab the free items they have to offer. You don’t want to miss BHA’s golf challenge, where if you sink a putt you win a $25 Amazon gift card for yourself and BHA will match the $25 to the worthwhile WCC charities! 1:00 p.m. – Seminar Begins! The afternoon starts with a not-to-be-missed panel, “Struggles and Successes of the Past 25 Years.” Next, you’ll learn about “Unwrapped and Unraveled - An insightful (or inciteful?) play at the changing nature of the relationships between the parties in a wrap program who thought the wrap was supposed to take care of everything.” 3:00 p.m. – Afternoon Break Get a cup of coffee or water, and head out into the exhibit hall. Don’t forget to go to BHA’s booth to enter to win Dodger tickets. 3:30 p.m. – Seminar Panels Continue The seminar returns with two more amazing panels: “East Coast Meets West Coast –Hot Construction Defect Issues and Coverage Cases from the Other Coast” and “How to Conduct Your Claim Investigation and Early Claims Handling To Avoid Bad Faith Traps.” 6:00 p.m. – Attend an After Party After taking a few minutes to unwind and freshen up, go and network as well as have some at one of the reception’s thrown by attending firms. No after party? Head over to the Uva Bar at Downtown Disney for a cocktail and some people watching. 8:00 p.m. - Late Dinner at Catal Restaurant (Downtown Disney) Enjoy a relaxing and sumptuous meal at Catal in Downtown Disney, one of the famed Patina Group’s restaurants. Day Two: Thursday, May 17th 7:30 a.m. – Breakfast in the Exhibit Hall Take advantage of West Coast Casualty’s free breakfast, and peruse more exhibits. Check out BHA’s data process collection process and discover meaningful cost improvements that translate to reduced billing while providing superior accuracy and credibility. 8:30 a.m. – Seminar Panels The seminar returns with more panels you won’t want to miss: “Recent Important Appellate Decisions in California, Nevada, and Arizona” and “Litigating In The Western States - A Judge’s Perspective.” 10:30 a.m. – Morning Break Grab a cup of coffee or water and chat with your colleagues about the panels you just heard. 10:45 a.m. – Seminar Panel Another important panel to finish the morning, “Subrogation is not the type of intervention I need. How a subrogated insurer affects construction defect matters.” 11:45 a.m. – Award Presentation Find out this year’s winners of the Ollie, Legend of the Era and Silver Stars. 12:15 p.m. – WCC Luncheon Network and chat with your colleagues at one of the meals provided by the seminar. 1:30 p.m. – Seminar Panel Now that you’ve recharged, you’re ready for another incredible WCC panel: “What Comes Around (Sometimes) Goes Around: Dealing with Recalcitrant Carriers.” 2:30 p.m. – Afternoon Break Stretch your legs in the exhibit hall and get yourself more schwag. Learn about BHA’s expanding market presence and full range of services in Texas, Florida, and across the Southeast United States. 3:00 p.m. – Seminar Panels Continue Don’t miss the last two panels of the day: “Effective Use of Experts” and “Claims Managers Speak - A Retrospective & Prospective Discussion.” 5:30 p.m. – Cocktail Reception With your glass of Cabernet, network with colleagues and then try your hand again at BHA’s golf challenge to win an Amazon gift card and earn money for WCC charities. 6:30 p.m. – Hit the Pool or Jacuzzi Take those tired feet and soak them in one of the Disneyland Resort’s many pools and jacuzzi’s. Or schedule a spa treatment at Madara in the Grand Californian Hotel. 7:00 p.m. – After Party or Ball Game Now that you’ve given yourself some time to rejuvenate, you’re ready to meet up with friends and colleagues at one of the after parties and receptions. Or if you’re a sports fan and want a break from work, go cheer on the Angel’s as they play Tampa Bay. 8:30 p.m. – Uva Bar Unless you chose to go to the game, enjoy a late supper and cocktail under the beautiful southern California sky at the Uva Bar in Downtown Disney. Day Three: Friday, May 18th 7:30 a.m. – Breakfast at the Seminar Take advantage of another free meal, and take the time to check out more exhibits as the last day of the seminar begins. Don’t forget to enter BHA’s raffle for Dodger tickets! 8:30 a.m. – Breakout Sessions I Choose between one of three breakout sessions: “Known Knowns and Known: Unknowns, the Ins and Outs of Extrapolation,” “Risk Transfer Alphabet Soup - A twelve year lookback on legislative tinkering with anti-indemnity statutes - where are we now?” or “Florida – Opening Pandora's Box and How to Close It.” 9:30 a.m. – Breakout Sessions II Three additional breakout sessions to choose from: “An Update on California’s Right to Repair Act, featuring McMillin Albany et al. v. Superior Court,” “Finding Evidence for your Coverage Case,” or “Northwest Insurance Coverage and Extra-Contractual Issues.” 10:30 a.m. – Morning Break Refuel with coffee or water before the next group of exciting breakout sessions begins. 11:00 a.m. – Breakout Sessions III You’ll want to go to one of these three breakout sessions: “Subcontractor Wars: The Last AI,” “Mediating the Luxury Single Family Home Construction Defect Case,” or “Creative Solutions to the Florida Problem: Making No Contribution and No State Law Work for You.” 12:00 p.m. – Breakout Sessions IV and the End of the Seminar The seminar closes with the last trio of breakout sessions: “Everyone is a Small Player,” “Real World Solutions to the Real Problems Presented By Wrap Up Programs,” or “When Mother Nature Attacks, Are you Covered?” 1:30 p.m. – Lunch at Corn Dog Castle in California Adventure Park OR Hollinghead’s Delicatessen in Orange If you’re a Disney lover, you’ll want to take advantage of the day by going to one of the Disney Resort Parks, of course. Get one of Disney’s amazing corn dogs at Corn Dog Castle in California Adventure Park.

    Or if you would rather explore the greater Anaheim area, then head over to Hollinghead’s Delicatessen for a homemade sandwich and a glass of beer on tap. 3:00 p.m. – Disney Entertainment OR Museum Exploring If you chose to go to California Adventure, check out the event schedule for the day. Catch the show Frozen – Live at the Hyperion or get a Fastpass for the Radiator Springs Racers and ride Soarin’ Around the World. If you purchased a two-park pass, don’t forget about Space Mountain or Star Tours located in the Disneyland Park. North Orange county has many interesting museums. Head to the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana or the Muzeo in Anaheim. 7:00 p.m. – Dinner at the Blue Bayou Restaurant OR the Summit House Restaurant Have a one-of-a-kind eating experience at the Blue Bayou in Disneyland Park. Enjoy a dinner in the midst of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride! If you wish to remain in the California Adventure Park, try an alfresco dinner at Wine Country Trattoria or an indoor, upscale meal at Carthay Circle. After an afternoon perusing museums, enjoy a truly superb meal with attentive service at one of Anaheim’s premier restaurants, Summit House. Feeling like having some fun rather than a sedate meal? Head over to the House of Blues in Anaheim for their Party Like It’s 1999! A Prince Tribute Party. 8:30 p.m. – Paint the Night Parade/Together Forever OR The Blind Rabbit Speakeasy Head over to watch the Paint the Night Parade at the California Adventure Park or the fireworks display, Together Forever — A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular at the Disneyland Park. Be sure to check out the daily event schedule for up to date information. End your evening at Anaheim’s only speakeasy, the Blind Rabbit, located in the Anaheim Meat Packing district. Be sure to check out their “rules” and reserve a table at this popular spot. Read the court decision
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    NYC Hires Engineer LERA for Parking Garage Collapse Probe

    January 29, 2024 —
    The investigation into the collapse of a Lower Manhattan parking garage last April is still underway. A Jan. 2 notice published in The City Record identified LERA Consulting Structural Engineers RLLP as the engineering firm assisting with the probe. Reprinted courtesy of James Leggate, Engineering News-Record Mr. Leggate may be contacted at leggatej@enr.com Read the full story... Read the court decision
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    Court Rejects Efforts to Limit Scope of Judgment Creditor’s Direct Action Under Insurance Code Section 11580

    May 01, 2019 —
    In Ins. Co. of St. of PA v. Amer. Safety Indemnity Co. (No. B283684, filed 3/1/19) (“ICSOP”), a California appeals court rejected one insurer’s efforts to limit the scope of another insurer’s direct action as a judgment creditor under Insurance Code section 11580(b)(2). In ICSOP, homeowners filed a claim in arbitration against their general contractor alleging damages from subsidence. While the arbitration was pending, the general contractor filed suit against the grading subcontractor seeking indemnity and contribution. The complaint attached the homeowners’ complaint in arbitration pleading damages of $2.3 million, and alleged that the subcontractors had a duty to indemnify for those damages. The arbitrator awarded the homeowners $1.1 million. The general contractor was insured by plaintiff ICSOP, which paid the arbitration award. A default judgment was entered against the grading subcontractor for $1.5 million, that included both the arbitration award plus $356,340 for the general contractor’s attorney’s fees. American Safety insured the grading subcontractor but refused to indemnify ICSOP. ICSOP then sued American Safety on the default judgment, pursuant to Insurance Code section 11580(b). The trial court granted summary judgment for ICSOP and the appeals court affirmed. Mr. Kendrick may be contacted at ckendrick@hbblaw.com Ms. Moore may be contacted at vmoore@hbblaw.com Reprinted courtesy of Christopher Kendrick, Haight Brown & Bonesteel LLP and Valerie A. Moore, Haight Brown & Bonesteel LLP Read the court decision
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    Providing “Labor” Under the Miller Act

    January 28, 2019 —
    A recent opinion out of the Northern District of California discusses the “labor” required to support a Miller Act payment bond claim on a federal construction project. It is a good case that discusses the type of labor required to support a Miller Act payment bond claim. In Prime Mechanical Service, Inc. v. Federal Solutions Group, Inc., 2018 WL 619930 (N.D.Cal. 2018), a prime contractor was awarded a contract to design and install a new HVAC system. The prime contractor subcontracted the work to a mechanical contractor. The mechanical contractor with its sub-designer prepared and submitted a new HVAC design to the prime contractor and provided 4-5 onsite services to determine the location and layout for the new HVAC equipment, perform field measurements, obtain security passes, and plan site access and crane locations. The mechanical contractor submitted an invoice to the prime contractor and the invoice remained unpaid for more than 90 days, which the prime contractor refused to pay. The mechanical contractor than filed a Miller Act payment bond lawsuit. Read the court decision
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    Reprinted courtesy of David Adelstein, Kirwin Norris
    Mr. Adelstein may be contacted at dma@kirwinnorris.com

    Little Known Florida Venue Statue Benefitting Resident Contractors

    June 30, 2016 —
    When it comes to venue, there is a rather unknown venue statute that benefits resident contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers working on Florida projects. This statute, Fla. Stat. s. 47.025, states: Any venue provision in a contract for improvement to real property which requires legal action involving a resident contractor, subcontractor, sub-subcontractor, or materialman, as defined in part I of chapter 713, to be brought outside this state is void as a matter of public policy. To the extent that the venue provision in the contract is void under this section, any legal action arising out of that contract shall be brought only in this state in the county where the defendant resides, where the cause of action accrued, or where the property in litigation is located, unless, after the dispute arises, the parties stipulate to another venue. Read the court decision
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    Reprinted courtesy of David M. Adelstein, Kirwin Norris
    Mr. Adelstein may be contacted at dma@kirwinnorris.com

    Zetlin & De Chiara Ranked in the Top Tier for Construction Law by Legal 500 USA

    June 21, 2021 —
    Zetlin & De Chiara was named a Band 1 Construction Law firm in the United States by the Legal 500 US in its annual guide. Described as a "boutique construction law firm with a deep bench and understanding of how a construction project is built and how to address disputes when they happen," Zetlin & De Chiara is routinely involved in projects across the US and internationally. Legal 500 selected Michael Zetlin, Michael De Chiara and Michael Vardaro to the Leading Lawyers list. Michael De Chiara was praised as an "expert in the field." Michael Zetlin was lauded for his representation of national and multi-national construction companies as well as premier owners, developers and contractors. Other members of the "very pragmatic" team who were recognized were Tara Mulrooney and Jim Terry. The Legal 500 US 2021 guide is a highly regarded legal directory which annually ranks law firms and legal professionals. It highlights legal teams who are providing the most cutting edge and innovative advice to corporate counsel. Rankings are based on feedback from clients worldwide, submissions from law firms and interviews with leading private practice lawyers. About Zetlin & De Chiara: Zetlin & De Chiara LLP provides sophisticated legal and business counsel and advice to members of the construction community across the country including real estate owners and developers, design professionals, construction managers and contractors, and financial institutions. Read the court decision
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    Reprinted courtesy of Zetlin & De Chiara LLP

    COVID-19 Case Remanded for Failure to Meet Amount in Controversy

    September 14, 2020 —
    The federal district court remanded to state court a loss of rent claim because the amount in controversy requirement was not met. Geragos & Geragos Fine Arts Bldg., LLC v. Travelers Indemn. Co., 2020 U.S Dist. LEXIS 127427 (C.D. Cal. July 20, 2020). Geragos suffered loss of rental income due to the COVID-19 tenant relief measures implemented in Los Angeles. The tenant relief orders would remain in effect for the duration of the emergency period, the end date of which was not presently set. Geragos submitted a claim for loss of rental income to Travelers. When the claim was denied, Geragos sued in state court. Travelers removed to federal district court. Geragos moved to remand the case back to state court for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. Read the court decision
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    Reprinted courtesy of Tred R. Eyerly, Damon Key Leong Kupchak Hastert
    Mr. Eyerly may be contacted at te@hawaiilawyer.com

    Close Enough Only Counts in Horseshoes and Hand Grenades

    March 08, 2021 —
    In State Farm General Insurance Company v. Oetiker, Inc., Case No. B302348 (December 18, 2020), a manufacturer sued in subrogation action under the Right to Repair Act almost got away. Almost. The Oetiker Case James and Jennifer Philson’s home was substantially completed, and a notice of completion was recorded, in 2004. In 2016, the Philsons tendered a claim to their homeowner’s insurance carrier, State Farm General Insurance Company, after their home experienced significant water damage due to a defective stainless steel ear clamp. In 2018, after paying the Philson’s claim, State Farm filed a subrogation action against the manufacturer of the ear clamp, Oetiker, Inc. State Farm’s complaint, which included causes of action for negligence, strict products liability and breach of implied warranty, alleged that the home was “damaged by a water leak from the failure of a defective stainless steel ear claim on a water PEX fitting” and that the ear clamp was “defective when it left the control of [Oetiker].” Read the court decision
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    Reprinted courtesy of Garret Murai, Nomos LLP
    Mr. Murai may be contacted at gmurai@nomosllp.com