BERT HOWE
  • Nationwide: (800) 482-1822    
    concrete tilt-up building expert Seattle Washington custom home building expert Seattle Washington Medical building building expert Seattle Washington retail construction building expert Seattle Washington housing building expert Seattle Washington condominiums building expert Seattle Washington Subterranean parking building expert Seattle Washington custom homes building expert Seattle Washington mid-rise construction building expert Seattle Washington hospital construction building expert Seattle Washington condominium building expert Seattle Washington parking structure building expert Seattle Washington casino resort building expert Seattle Washington townhome construction building expert Seattle Washington high-rise construction building expert Seattle Washington institutional building building expert Seattle Washington multi family housing building expert Seattle Washington office building building expert Seattle Washington industrial building building expert Seattle Washington tract home building expert Seattle Washington landscaping construction building expert Seattle Washington low-income housing building expert Seattle Washington
    Seattle Washington engineering consultantSeattle Washington construction scheduling expert witnessSeattle Washington architecture expert witnessSeattle Washington civil engineer expert witnessSeattle Washington civil engineering expert witnessSeattle Washington testifying construction expert witnessSeattle Washington engineering 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


    Best Lawyers Recognizes Hundreds of Lewis Brisbois Attorneys, Honors Four Partners as ‘Lawyers of the Year’

    Confidence Among U.S. Homebuilders Declines to Eight-Month Low

    High Court Case Review Frees Jailed Buffalo Billions Contractor CEO

    Residential Mortgage Lenders and Servicers Beware of Changes to Rule 3002.1

    When Brad Pitt Tried to Save the Lower Ninth Ward

    A Teaming Agreement is Still a Contract (or, Be Careful with Agreements to Agree)

    Wood Product Rotting in New Energy Efficient Homes

    US Civil Rights Tools Are Failing the Most Polluted Black Communities

    Lewis Brisbois Appellate Team Scores Major Victory in Bad Faith Insurance Action

    Additional Insured is Loss Payee after Hurricane Damage

    Attorney's Erroneous Conclusion that Limitations Period Had Not Expired Was Not Grounds For Relief Under C.C.P. § 473(b)

    Partner Denis Moriarty and Of Counsel William Baumgaertner Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© 2017

    Policing Those Subcontractors: It Might Take Extra Effort To Be An Additional Insured

    When Coronavirus Cases Spike at Construction Jobsites

    U.S. Supreme Court Allows Climate Change Lawsuits to Proceed in State Court

    New York Philharmonic Will Open Geffen Hall Two Years Ahead of Schedule

    Georgia Court of Appeals Holds That Policyholder Can “Stack” the Limits of Each Primary Policy After Asbestos Claim

    Client Alert: Michigan Insurance Company Not Subject to Personal Jurisdiction in California for Losses Suffered in Arkansas

    Farewell Capsule Tower, Tokyo’s Oddest Building

    Seattle’s Newest Residential Developer

    MDL Panel Grants Consolidation for One Group of COVID-19 Claims

    Miller Act CLAIMS: Finding Protections and Preserving Your Rights

    Contract Change # 10: Differing Site Conditions (law note)

    Nomos LLP Partners Recognized in Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists

    Oregon Duty to Defend Triggered by Potential Timing of Damage

    At Least 23 Dead as Tornadoes, Severe Storms Ravage South

    Good-To-Know Points Regarding (I) Miller Act Payment Bonds And (Ii) Payment Bond Surety Compelling Arbitration

    BHA has a Nice Swing: Firm Supports Wounded Warrior Project at WCC Seminar

    Settlement Reached in California Animal Shelter Construction Defect Case

    Prison Contractors Did Not Follow the Law

    Contractor’s Assignment of Construction Contract to Newly Formed Company Before Company Was Licensed, Not Subject to B&P 7031

    Wilke Fleury Attorneys Recognized in “The Best Lawyers in America” & “Best Lawyers: One’s to Watch” 2024 Editions

    Court finds subcontractor responsible for defending claim

    COVID-19 Damages and Time Recovery: Contract Checklist and Analysis

    Court of Federal Claims: Upstream Hurricane Harvey Case Will Proceed to Trial

    Kahana Feld Receives 2024 OCCDL Top Legal Organizations for DEI Award

    Lewis Brisbois Promotes 35 to Partnership

    Handshake Deals Gone Wrong

    How Helsinki Airport Uses BIM to Create the Best Customer Experience

    Washington Court Limits Lien Rights of Construction Managers

    High School Gym Closed by Construction Defects

    How Many New Home Starts are from Teardowns?

    Florida Passes Tort Reform Bill

    Eight Things You Need to Know About the AAA’s New Construction Arbitration Rules

    Colorado HB 13-1090: Concerning Payment of Amounts Due Under a Construction Agreement

    United States Supreme Court Limits Class Arbitration

    “A No-Lose Proposition?”

    Sureties and Bond Producers May Be Liable For a Contractor’s False Claims Action Violation

    Insurer’s Motion for Summary Judgment Based on Earth Movement Exclusion Denied

    In Contracts, One Word Makes All the Difference
    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

    Bad Faith in the First Party Insurance Context

    December 15, 2016 —
    In a previous article I discussed bad faith when it comes to an insurance claim. Recently, in Barton v. Capitol Preferred Insurance Co., Inc., 41 Fla. L. Weekly D2736b (Fla. 5th DCA 2016), the court discussed bad faith in the first-party insurance context (i.e., a property / homeowners insurance policy). In this case, homeowners, as the insured, sued their homeowners insurance carrier for sinkhole coverage. The homeowner filed a Civil Remedy Notice of Insurer Violation (also known as a Civil Remedy Notice) against their insurer with the Florida Department of Insurance in accordance with Florida Statute s. 624.155. This Civil Remedy Notice is a prerequisite to initiating such a bad faith claim; the notice specifies the statutory violations committed by the insurer and gives the insurer 60 days to cure the violation. Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of David Adelstein, Florida Construction Legal Updates
    Mr. Adelstein may be contacted at dma@katzbarron.com

    Top 10 Lessons Learned from a Construction Attorney

    February 18, 2015 —
    I have had the pleasure of working with Cordell Parvin, who in his earlier career was a preeminent construction attorney, and now, coaches attorneys. Cordell has shared countless construction guides and presentations with me over the years, for which I am extremely grateful. Below is Cordell’s Lesson’s Learned list, that is as true today as when he drafted it years ago. 1. Contracts and owners are not all alike. Some are fairer than others. Some create greater risks of making the budget if we encounter changes, delays and impacts. We should appreciate the risks before bidding and not underestimate indirect costs of staff to deal with these situations. 2. It is important to have a thorough understanding of the Contract Administration requirements of complex contracts. Identifying specifically what must be done when changes, delays and differing site conditions are encountered is one way to establish the understanding. 3. If a project ever ends up in court, every letter, note, e-mail and memo is evidence and will be taken out of context by the opposing lawyer. Recording every mistake, miscalculation, problem or lesson learned during construction of the project will come back to haunt you. Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of Craig Martin, Lamson, Dugan and Murray, LLP
    Mr. Martin may be contacted at cmartin@ldmlaw.com

    Nevada Bill Would Bring Changes to Construction Defects

    February 21, 2013 —
    If Nevada Senate Republicans get there way, changes are afoot for construction defect law in Nevada. Senate Minority Leader Michael Roberson has introduced a bill that, according to the Las Vegas Sun, “redefines what constitutes a construction defect, reduces the time in which lawsuits can be filed, and removed automatic awarding of attorney fees.” Roberson notes that over the last six years, construction defect claims have more than tripled. Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of

    Home Buyer May Be Third Party Beneficiary of Property Policy

    July 19, 2017 —
    The Oklahoma Supreme Court reversed the trial court's grant of summary judgment to the insurer, finding that the purchaser may have third party beneficiary rights under the seller's property policy. Hensley v. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co., 2017 Okla. LEXIS 59 (June 20, 2017). In May 2000, Hensley sold his property and a mobile home located thereon to Douglas using a contract for deed. The contract for deed required Douglas to keep the premises insured, and the monthly payments made by Douglas to Hensley included the premiums. Hensley had a policy with State Farm on the property. Hensley continued to make the premium payments and the policy continued to be renewed. Further, State Farm was informed of the change in the property's status. 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

    CA Homeowners Challenging Alternate Pre-Litigation Procedures

    April 15, 2014 —
    Garret Murai on his California Construction Law blog discussed how some homeowners have challenged homebuilders who use alternative pre-litigation procedures instead of the rules of California’s Right to Repair Act (SB 800). “The Right to Repair Act, which was intended to help curb the then rising tide of residential construction defect litigation, provides mandatory pre-litigation procedures which must be followed in construction defect cases involving new residential construction,” Murai explained. “One of the major exceptions to the statutory pre-litigation procedures under SB 800, however, is that a homebuilder can opt to use its own alternative pre-litigation procedures if disclosed to a homebuyer.” Murai used The McCaffrey Group, Inc. v. Superior Court case to demonstrate that homeowners can challenge the builder’s use of alternative pre-litigation procedures, and win if they can prove that the alternate procedures are “unconscionable.” “For homebuilders, the take away is that, sure you can adopt your own alternative pre-litigation procedures under the Right to Repair,” Murai stated, “but if you do just know that they may be challenged by homeowners who may contend that they are unconscionable, which kinda defeats the whole idea behind SB 800 which was intended to reduce the amount of litigation the first place.” Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of

    Bert L. Howe & Associates to Join All-Star Panel at West Coast Casualty Seminar

    March 26, 2014 —
    Don MacGregor of Bert L. Howe & Associates, a consulting firm, will join fellow panelists Hon. Peter Lichtman (ret), Hon. Nancy Wieben Stock (ret), Peter S. Curry, Brian Kahn, Esq., and Paul R. Kiesel, Esq in a break-out discussion entitled “Working Smarter with Technology” at this year’s West Coast Casualty Construction Defect Seminar being held May 15th-16th at the world-famous Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, California. West Coast Casualty's Construction Defect Seminar is the largest seminar of its kind worldwide focusing on all of the elements of the prosecution, defense, coverage and technologies of construction defect claims and litigation from a national perspective. With offices in California, Nevada, Colorado, Florida and Texas (Houston & San Antonio), Bert L. Howe & Associates provides construction consulting and expert witness services to insurance professionals and lawyers specializing in construction defect litigation, construction risk analysis, and property claims arising from construction-related activities. Download an Invitation and Register... Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of

    Builders Seek to Modify Scaffold Law

    June 28, 2013 —
    New York’s scaffold law dates back to 1885 and requires contractors and building owners to take measures to protect worker from falls through “proper protection.” And although the law is more than 125 years old, Lou Colettie of the Building Trades Employers Association clams that the law “is going to destroy the construction industry.” On the other side, a former director of the NYC Central Labor Council says that builders want to get rid of the law because of “greed.” The New York Daily News notes that when workers using scaffolds or ladders are injured, the contractor must prove the site was safe. According to the claims of the building industry, this would let workers get settlements if their injuries were their own fault, such as working while intoxicated or failing to observe their employer’s safety procedures. A bill is currently working its way through the New York legislature that would make the employee’s actions relevant in an injury lawsuit. There have been past unsuccessful attempts to repeal the law, this year opponents are pushing to just amend it. Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of

    Architects and Engineers Added to Harmon Towers Lawsuit

    February 12, 2013 —
    Since the beginning of the Harmon Towers construction defect lawsuit, it has been CityCenter making claims against Perini, the property owner against the builder. CityCenter now has a new legal team, and with it apparently a new strategy. The Las Vegas Review Journal reports that papers were filed in court on February 8, adding the architect and the engineer as defendants in the case. According to the filings, the engineering firm Halcrow Yolles should have noticed during inspections that parts of the building’s steel skeleton were improperly installed and should have been repaired. Instead these structures were encased in concrete. CityCenter also contends that there were deficiencies in Halcrow’s blueprints. AAI Architects has been named because its contract made it responsible for Halcrow’s work. Perini has contended that some problems at the building were due to bad plans and therefore not their responsibility. They have claimed that they can fix the building for $20 million, of which $4 million would be due to their actions. Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of