BERT HOWE
  • Nationwide: (800) 482-1822    
    custom home building expert Seattle Washington retail construction building expert Seattle Washington hospital construction building expert Seattle Washington high-rise construction building expert Seattle Washington tract home building expert Seattle Washington office building building expert Seattle Washington housing building expert Seattle Washington landscaping construction building expert Seattle Washington low-income housing building expert Seattle Washington parking structure building expert Seattle Washington mid-rise construction building expert Seattle Washington Subterranean parking building expert Seattle Washington townhome construction building expert Seattle Washington institutional building building expert Seattle Washington Medical building building expert Seattle Washington industrial building building expert Seattle Washington concrete tilt-up building expert Seattle Washington condominium building expert Seattle Washington casino resort building expert Seattle Washington condominiums building expert Seattle Washington custom homes building expert Seattle Washington structural steel construction building expert Seattle Washington
    Seattle Washington expert witness roofingSeattle Washington construction defect expert witnessSeattle Washington construction project management expert witnessSeattle Washington construction claims expert witnessSeattle Washington architect expert witnessSeattle Washington consulting architect expert witnessSeattle Washington construction expert witness public projects
    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


    “Pay When Paid” Provisions May Not Be Dead, at Least Not Yet

    17 Snell & Wilmer Attorneys Ranked In The 2019 Legal Elite Edition Of Nevada Business Magazine

    Connecticut Appellate Court Breaks New Ground on Policy Exhaustion

    Luxury Home Sales are on the Rise

    Sanctions Award Against Pro Se Plaintiff Upheld

    Common Construction Contract Provisions: No-Damages-for-Delay Clause

    Include Contract Clauses for Protection Against Ever-Evolving Construction Challenges

    Best Lawyers Recognizes Twelve White and Williams Lawyers

    A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Substitution Hearings Under California’s Listing Law

    Maximizing Contractual Indemnity Rights: Insuring the Indemnitor's Obligation

    Quick Note: Independent Third-Party Spoliation Of Evidence Claim

    Home Repair Firms Sued for Fraud

    Everyone’s Working From Home Due to the Coronavirus – Is There Insurance Coverage for a Data Breach?

    Congratulations to BWB&O’s 2023 Super Lawyers Rising Stars!

    Illinois Court Assesses Factual Nature of Term “Reside” in Determining Duty to Defend

    Court Upholds Plan to Eliminate Vehicles from Balboa Park Complex

    Security on Large Construction Projects. The Payment Remedy You Probably Never Heard of

    Withdrawal Liability? Read your CBA

    $6 Million in Punitive Damages for Chinese Drywall

    Beyond the Disneyland Resort: Museums

    #4 CDJ Topic: Vita Planning and Landscape Architecture, Inc. v. HKS Architects, Inc.

    Read the Property Insurance Policy to be Sure You are Complying with Post Loss Obligations

    Liability Coverage For Construction Claims May Turn On Narrow Factual Distinctions

    Dust Obscures Eleventh Circuit’s Ruling on “Direct Physical Loss”

    California Fire Lawyers File Suit Against PG&E on Behalf of More Than 50 Wildfire Victims

    Engineer TRC Fends Off Lawsuits After Merger

    Subprime Bonds Are Back With Different Name Seven Years After U.S. Crisis

    A Few Things You Might Consider Doing Instead of Binging on Netflix

    Wisconsin Court Enforces Breach of Contract Exclusion in E&O Policy

    N.J. Appellate Court Confirms that AIA Construction Contract Bars Insurer's Subrogation Claim

    California Federal Court Finds a Breach of Contract Exclusion in a CGL Policy Bars All Coverage for a Construction Defect Action

    Real Estate & Construction News Round-Up (10/27/21)

    Client Alert: California’s Unfair Competition Law (B&P §17200) Preempted by Federal Workplace Safety Law

    Client Alert: Design Immunity Affirmative Defense Not Available to Public Entities Absent Evidence of Pre-Accident Discretionary Approval of the Plan or Design

    Window Installer's Alleged Faulty Workmanship On Many Projects Constitutes Multiple Occurrences

    Construction Law Alert: Appellate Court Rules General Contractors Can Contractually Subordinate Mechanics Lien Rights

    NYC Luxury-Condo Buyers Await New Towers as Sales Slow

    The Most Expensive Apartment Listings in New York That Are Not in Manhattan

    Did New York Zero Tolerance Campaign Improve Jobsite Safety?

    New York Bridge to Be Largest Infrastructure Project in North America

    Illinois Supreme Court Holds that Constructions Defects May Constitute “Property Damage” Caused By An “Occurrence” Under Standard CGL Policy, Overruling Prior Appellate Court Precedent

    Suppliers Must Also Heed “Right to Repair” Claims

    Illinois Supreme Court Announces Time Standards for Closing Out Cases

    Notice of Completion Determines Mechanics Lien Deadline

    Architects and Engineers Added to Harmon Towers Lawsuit

    Missouri Legislature Passes Bill to Drastically Change Missouri’s “Consent Judgment” Statute

    Ensuring Arbitration in Construction Defect Claims

    COVID-19 Is Not Direct Physical Loss Or Damage

    Homebuilders Call for Housing Tax Incentives

    Chambers USA 2021 Ranks White and Williams as a Leading Law Firm
    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. 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.

    Building Expert News & Info
    Seattle, Washington

    The Unthinkable Has Happened. How Should Contractors Respond?

    May 11, 2020 —
    Any construction veteran expects the economy to contract and expand. However, the global pandemic presents contractors with a challenge unlike any in recent memory. How should they respond in an environment of such uncertainty? For some perspective, I chatted with Dr. John Killingsworth, a construction management professor at Colorado State University who has conducted extensive research on how contractors can weather economic downturns. BRUCE ORR: John, let’s say you’re in IT or are a c-suite executive at a contracting firm. This event has occurred. What are some of the questions you should be asking right now? JOHN KILLINGSWORTH: For starters, we have to acknowledge that the uncertainties are so tremendous that many contractors have no choice but to be reactive in the short term. They’re literally not sure whether particular job sites will be open or closed tomorrow or whether they’ll go to work next week. They’re also looking at predictions—from highly qualified statisticians, public health officials and others—that are just all over the map due to the limited nature of the data we have at hand. Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of Bruce Orr, AEC Business
    Mr. Orr may be contacted at bruce@pronovos.com

    Green Home Predictions That Are Best Poised to Come True in 2014 and Beyond (guest post)

    July 16, 2014 —
    Today, a guest post on the green design issues that are becoming realities from Penny Olmos, who is associated with Holloway Houston, Inc. a leading industrial lifting equipment manufacturing company. Welcome, Penny! The scorching heat singed us and the winter wave chilled us — more than ever before. What are we heading to? Earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, tornadoes and extreme temperatures? Mother Nature is warning us in myriad ways. And the good news is that we are heeding her calls after long. Saving our natural resources and going green has found many takers. We have seen many eco-friendly homes and buildings designed and created in the last decade. Green homes are here to stay. We look at the popular green home design and construction trends in 2014 that are about to transform the landscape of green realty. Rise of Net Zero Energy Homes It seemed impossible until a couple of years ago but 2014 will witness a rise in net zero energy homes. These are homes with zero net energy consumption. The total amount of energy used by these buildings annually equals the amount of renewable energy created on the property. This is the greenest and the most energy efficient house you can possess. And you do not need to cut down on any of your comforts. There are heating, cooling, entertainment and utility appliances functioning in the house like they would in any other home. Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of Melissa Dewey Brumback, Construction Law in North Carolina
    Ms. Brumback may be contacted at mbrumback@rl-law.com

    New York Court of Appeals Addresses Choice of Law Challenges

    August 20, 2018 —
    In June, the New York Court of Appeals examined the application of a New York Choice of Law provision in a contract – a determinative issue for the case. In Ontario, Inc. v. Samsung C&T Corp., the issue was whether the plaintiff’s claims were subject to Ontario, Canada’s 2-year statute of limitations or New York’s 6-year statute of limitations for breach of contract where the contract contained a broad New York Choice of Law provision. The court found that pursuant to New York’s borrowing statute, Ontario’s more restrictive statute of limitations applied. The action was dismissed as time-barred, serving as a harsh reminder of the potential effects of choice of law and limitations periods. The suit arose out of the following facts. In 2008, an Ontario renewable energy developer, SkyPower Corp. (“SkyPower”), entered into a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) with the defendants which allowed the defendants to review SkyPower’s confidential and proprietary information. The review was conditioned on restricted disclosure and the requirement that the information would be destroyed after review. Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of Grace V. Hebbel, Saxe Doernberger & Vita, P.C.
    Ms. Hebbel may be contacted at gvh@sdvlaw.com

    Disjointed Proof of Loss Sufficient

    June 11, 2014 —
    The court found that when considered as a whole, separately filed proofs of loss and estimates of damage were sufficient to meet the requirements of a flood policy. Young v. Imperial Fire & Cas. Ins. Co., 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 51863 (April 15, 2014). On August 29, 2012, plaintiffs' property sustained flood damage due to Hurricane Isaac. After Imperial's adjustor inspected the property, advance payments were made for $5000 under the building coverage and $5000 under the contents coverage. On October 26, 2012, the plaintiffs' adjustor submitted a proof of loss for building damages, stating the amount of loss was $175,100, which was the policy limit minus the deductible. The insured wife signed the proof of loss. The actual case value, full cost of replacement or repair, and applicable depreciation were listed "undetermined." Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of Tred R. Eyerly, Insurance Law Hawaii
    Mr. Eyerly may be contacted at te@hawaiilawyer.com

    Eighth Circuit Affirms Judgment for Bad Faith after Insured's Home Destroyed by Fire

    January 21, 2019 —
    The Eighth Circuit affirmed the district court's judgment that the insurer acted in bad faith when it denied the insured's claim based upon misrepresentations in the application after destruction of his house by fire. Hayes v. Metropolitan Pro. and Cas. Ins. Co., 2018 U.S. App. LEXIS 31813 (8th Cir. Nov. 9, 2018). Hayes' home was insured by Met under a homeowner's policy. Hayes used the detached garage as part of a home base for his plumbing business. He also rented out the second and third levels of the residence to a tenant and her two children. When Hayes applied for the policy in 2007, Met argues he indicated on the application that the premises were not used to conduct business, and were not used as rental property. Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of Tred R. Eyerly, Damon Key Leong Kupchak Hastert
    Mr. Eyerly may be contacted at te@hawaiilawyer.com

    Breach Of Duty of Good Faith And Fair Dealing Packaged With Contract Disputes Act Claim

    March 27, 2023 —
    An interesting opinion on a motion to dismiss came out of the United States Court of Federal Claims dealing with the claim that the government breached its duty of good faith and fair dealing in administering the prime contract. The contractor’s argument was that the government breached its duty of good faith and fair dealing by denying the contractor’s claim under the Contract Disputes Act (CDA). This was a creative claim and argument that deserves consideration because it tied in the contracting officer’s denial of the CDA claim for additional money with a breach of the duty of good faith and fair dealing. In this case, Aries Construction Corp. v. U.S., 2023 WL 2146598 (Fed. Cl. 2023), a prime contractor was hired for a water pipeline construction project. The contractor encountered unexpected difficult site conditions that required additional equipment and labor. The contractor informed the contracting officer and alleged it was instructed to proceed with the additional equipment and labor. The contractor submitted a claim under the CDA but the contracting officer denied the claim. The contractor pursued the claim in the United States Court of Federal Claims arguing the government breached the contract and, of interest, breached its duty of good faith and fair dealing. The government moved to dismiss the breach of good faith and fair dealing claim arguing that besides failing to state a cause of action the Court of Federal Claims had no jurisdiction because the breach of the duty of good faith and fair dealing was not properly presented to the contracting officer under the CDA. The Court of Federal Claims denied the government’s motion. Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of David Adelstein, Kirwin Norris, P.A.
    Mr. Adelstein may be contacted at dma@kirwinnorris.com

    The Power of Team Bonding: Transforming Workplaces for the Better

    June 10, 2024 —
    The number of civil Complaints filed in California has been steadily rising over the last few years. When employees struggle daily to make a dent in what seems as an insurmountable to-do list, taking time away from work to chat with coworkers about their weekends or the latest Netflix drop seems counterintuitive. Yet recent studies suggest that taking even 30 minutes away from your workday to engage in team bonding has lasting benefits. Investing in team bonding activities is not just about having fun; it is about creating a cohesive, motivated, and high-performing team that can drive organizational success. As the evidence suggests, the return on investment for team bonding activities is substantial, making it a vital component of any successful workplace strategy. Enhancing Communication and Collaboration One of the primary benefits of team bonding is improved communication among team members. Effective communication is the bedrock of any successful team, and activities designed to foster relationships can significantly enhance this aspect. A study conducted by MIT’s Human Dynamics Laboratory found that teams with higher levels of social interaction outside of formal meetings performed better than those with limited interaction. These teams were more cohesive, coordinated, and ultimately more productive. Bonding activities, as simple as group lunches or intensive as a weekend retreat, create opportunities for employees to interact in a relaxed setting. This helps break down barriers and encourages open communication, which translates into a more collaborative work environment. When employees feel comfortable sharing ideas and feedback, it leads to better problem-solving and innovation. Reprinted courtesy of Alexa Stephenson, Kahana Feld and Brittney Aquino, Kahana Feld Ms. Stephenson may be contacted at astephenson@kahanafeld.com Ms. Aquino may be contacted at baquino@kahanafeld.com Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of

    Don’t Miss the 2015 West Coast Casualty Construction Defect Seminar

    April 01, 2015 —
    The 22nd West Coast Casualty (WCC) Construction Defect Seminar returning to the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, California is just six weeks away. The annual event begins on Thursday, May 14th, with breakfast and registration starting at 7:30am. Panel discussions on various construction defect related topics begin at 8:30am and continue through the morning and afternoon, followed by a cocktail reception in the early evening. The following day includes break-out sessions with the event concluding in the afternoon. Attendees can enhance their seminar experience with the WCC Construction Defect Seminar Mobile App. The event schedule, speaker information, product information, sponsor details, and interactive floorplan can all be accessed through the app. Furthermore, registered attendees will have access to session presentations. The discounted, early registration ends April 15th, 2015. Download an Invitation and Register for the Event... Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of