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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


    Courts Favor Arbitration in Two Recent Construction Dispute Cases

    New York Court Holds Insurer Can Recover Before Insured Is Made Whole

    Quick Note: Remember to Timely Foreclose Lien Against Lien Transfer Bond

    What You Need to Know to Protect the Project Against Defect Claims

    Real Estate & Construction News Roundup (7/2/24) – Increase in Commercial Property Vacancy Rates, Trouble for the Real Estate Market and Real Estate as a Long-Term Investment

    Construction of New U.S. Homes Declines on Plunge in South

    Equitable Subrogation Part Deux: Mechanic’s Lien vs. Later Bank Deed of Trust

    Coverage for Injury to Insured’s Employee Not Covered

    Real Estate & Construction News Roundup (08/30/23) – AI Predicts Home Prices, Construction’s Effect on the Economy, and Could Streamline Communications for Developers

    Defeating the Ten-Year Statute of Repose For Latent Construction Defects

    Civility Is Key in Construction Defect Mediation

    Business Risk Exclusions Bar Coverage for Construction Defect Claims

    BHA has a Nice Swing: Don’t Forget to Visit BHA’s Booth at WCC to Support Charity

    A Lack of Sophistication With the Construction Contract Can Play Out In an Ugly Dispute

    Halliburton to Pay $1.1 Billion to Settle Spill Lawsuits

    Fewer NYC Construction Deaths as Safety Law Awaits Governor's Signature

    Combating Climate Change by Reducing Embodied Energy in the Built Environment

    Wisconsin High Court Rejects Insurer’s Misuse of “Other Insurance” Provision

    Fed Inflation Goal Is Elusive as U.S. Rents Stabilize: Economy

    Homebuilders Go Green in Response to Homebuyer Demand

    Don't Count On a Housing Slowdown to Improve Affordability

    Superintendent’s On-Site Supervision Compensable as Labor Under Miller Act

    Reminder: Your MLA Notice Must Have Your License Number

    San Francisco Bay Bridge Tower Rod Fails Test

    Condo Owners Allege Construction Defects

    MSJ Granted Equates to a Huge Victory for BWB&O & City of Murrieta Fire Department!

    New York Considering Legislation That Would Create Statute of Repose For Construction

    Don’t Conspire to Build a Home…Wait…What?

    Seven Former North San Diego County Landfills are Leaking Contaminants

    Taking the Stairs to Human Wellness and Greener Buildings

    More Charges Anticipated in Las Vegas HOA Scam

    Real Estate & Construction News Round-Up 04/06/22

    Mark Van Wonterghem To Serve as Senior Forensic Consultant in the Sacramento Offices of Bert L. Howe & Associates, Inc.

    How Drones are Speeding Up Construction

    A Primer on Suspension and Debarment for Federal Construction Projects

    Indiana Court of Appeals Holds That Lease Terms Bar Landlord’s Carrier From Subrogating Against Commercial Tenant

    No Coverage for Building's First Collapse, But Disputed Facts on Second Collapse

    Understanding Lien Waivers

    Three-Year Delay Not “Prompt Notice,” But Insurer Not “Appreciably Prejudiced” Either, New Jersey Court Holds

    Seventh Circuit Confirms Additional Insured's Coverage for Alleged Construction Defects

    Deadline for Hurricane Ian Disaster Recovery Applications Announced

    California Clarifies Its Inverse Condemnation Standard

    Should CGL Insurer have Duty to Defend Insured During Chapter 558 Notice of Construction Defects Process???

    Rhode Island Affirms The Principle That Sureties Must be Provided Notice of Default Before They Can be Held Liable for Principal’s Default

    Nancy Conrad to Serve as President of the Pennsylvania Bar Association

    Concrete Worker Wins Lawsuit and Settles with Other Defendant

    Singer Akon’s Multibillion-Dollar Futuristic City in Africa Gets Final Notice

    Louisiana Couple Claims Hurricane Revealed Construction Defects

    Jobsite Safety Should Be Every Contractors' Priority

    Illusory Insurance Coverage: Real or Unreal?
    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

    When Business is Personal: Negligent and Intentional Interference Claims

    October 24, 2023 —
    The nature of business is personal. Changes in personnel, project outlines, or business models cost businesses time and money to bring about, ward against, or stop. Any individual involved in business will likely have seen claims for interference with relationships, either prospective or contractual. But, what do those claims really mean and how viable are they in a capitalist society where free markets are held in such high esteem? Defendants in lawsuits will typically see these claims pleaded as one of three major categories: intentional interference with prospective economic advantage, intentional interference with contractual relations or contract, or negligent interference with prospective economic advantage. As the name would suggest, the first two are more concrete and require a showing that the bad actor was aware of the existence of a contract or relationship and took affirmative steps to interfere with that relationship. The latter is more nebulous and looks at business relationships that were likely to occur and are based on a “should have known” standard. Reprinted courtesy of Kathryne E. Baldwin, Wilke Fleury and José L. Parra, Wilke Fleury Ms. Baldwin may be contacted at kbaldwin@wilkefleury.com Mr. Parra may be contacted at jparra@wilkefleury.com Read the court decision
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    U.S. Navy Sailors Sue Tokyo Utility Company Over Radiation Poisoning

    April 09, 2014 —
    In a one billion dollar lawsuit, U.S. Navy sailors contend that they “suffered massive doses of radiation” from the Fukushima Dia-ichi nuclear power plant in Toyko, Japan while stationed on the USS Ronald Reagan, reported the Orange County Register. A tsunami (caused by a 9.0 earthquake) flooded the plant, “cutting off electrical power and disabling backup generators.” The USS Reagan was sent to provide aid, but the plant then “blew up” before they arrived. “Sailors on the flight deck said they felt a warm gust of air, followed by a sudden snow storm: radioactive steam,” according to the Orange County Register. “Freezing in the cold Pacific air. Blanketing their ship.” However, the Orange County Register posed the question, “Could the Reagan – one of the most advanced nuclear aircraft carriers in the U.S. fleet – really not know that it was being showered with massive doses of radiation?” TEPCO, the company being sued by the sailors, answered that it’s “wholly implausible.” Read the court decision
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    Pennsylvania: When Should Pennsylvania’s New Strict Products Liability Law Apply?

    February 05, 2015 —
    Pennsylvania has maintained its own peculiar brand of strict products liability law ever since the Supreme Court decided Azzarello v. Black Bros. Co., Inc.[1] in 1978. Maligned by many as “absurd and unworkable,”[2] if “excessively” orientated towards plaintiffs,[3] Azzarello’s unique approach to the Restatement (Second) of Torts § 402A (1965)[4] has recently been judicially consigned to the dustbin of history. In Tincher v. Omega Flex, Inc.,[5] decided on November 19, 2014, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court expressly overruled Azzarello leaving in its place a new alternative standards approach to proving a Section 402A claim. An injured worker or subrogated insurer[6] must still prove that the seller, whether a manufacturer or a distributor, placed the product on the market in a “defective condition unreasonably dangerous to the consumer.”[7] But now, under Tincher, a plaintiff must use either a “consumer expectation test” or a “risk-utility test” to establish that criterion.[8] Reprinted courtesy of Robert Caplan, White and Williams LLP and Timothy Carroll, White and Williams LLP Mr. Caplan may be contacted at caplanr@whiteandwilliams.com; Mr. Carroll may be contacted at carrollt@whiteandwilliams.com Read the court decision
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    Bert Hummel Appointed to Chief Justice’s Commission on Professionalism

    May 10, 2021 —
    Atlanta Partner Bert Hummel was recently appointed to the Chief Justice’s Commission on Professionalism (CJCP) for the 2020-2021 term. In this role, Mr. Hummel has assisted in carrying out the charge of the CJCP, namely, to enhance professionalism among Georgia’s lawyers. Mr. Hummel’s appointment follows his participation on the Grants Committee and the Professionalism Committee of the CJCP. In addition, Mr. Hummel was selected as one of seven members of CJCP’s Benham Awards Subcommittee, which recognizes Georgia attorneys who dedicate their practice or time to serving the public and profession. “I am honored to be appointed to a body that continually strives to do so much good for both the legal profession and the community at large. For the past several months, I have appreciated the work the Commission has undertaken to promote professionalism in the practice of law through educational programming while also promoting community service programs through the CJCP’s Grants Committee that I served on as well. I look forward to continuing to serve with my colleagues at the CJCP to promote our shared goals. I also relish the opportunity to serve during a time in which professionalism is of the utmost importance as we navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic made even more unique and special by the fact this is the last year Chief Justice Melton will serve as chair after announcing his retirement from the Supreme Court effective at the end of the Bar year.” Read the court decision
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    Reprinted courtesy of Bert Hummel, Lewis Brisbois
    Mr. Hummel may be contacted at Bert.Hummel@lewisbrisbois.com

    White and Williams recognized with Multiple Honorees in the Chambers 2023 USA Guide

    June 26, 2023 —
    Chambers has released their 2023 USA guide and ranked White and Williams as a leader among national law firms. The firm was recognized for recent achievements in Real Estate Finance and Insurance in Pennsylvania, and Construction in Maryland. “We are very pleased to have some of our most talented attorneys recognized again by Chambers”, said Andrew Susko, the Firm’s Managing Partner. In addition, to practice area recognition, nine lawyers were recognized and ranked highly in the 2023 Chambers USA guide from Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. In Philadelphia, Timothy E. Davis, Partner and Chair of the Business Department, and Nancy Sabol Frantz, Chair of the Real Estate and Finance practice were recognized for their achievements in Real Estate: Finance; and, Stephen Coury, Connecticut Office Managing Partner, was ranked among the top Real Estate professionals in Connecticut. Read the court decision
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    Reprinted courtesy of White and Williams LLP

    Part of the Whole: Idaho District Court Holds Economic Loss Rule Bars Tort Claims Related to Water Supply Line that was Part of Home Purchase

    October 03, 2022 —
    In Safeco Ins. Co. of Ill. v. LSP Prods. Grp., 2022 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 139566, the United States District Court for the District of Idaho (District Court) considered whether the plaintiff’s tort claims against the manufacturer of an allegedly defective toilet water supply line were barred by the economic loss rule. The defendant filed a motion for summary judgment arguing that, since the supply line was a part of the home when the plaintiff’s insureds purchased it, the plaintiff was barred by the economic loss rule from bringing tort claims against the manufacturer. The District Court granted the defendant’s summary judgment motion, ruling that the supply line was a part of the home, which was the subject of the transaction, at the time it was purchased. Thus, the District Court held that the economic loss rule barred the plaintiff’s tort claims. In 2012, Melissa Norris and Richard Meyers (collectively, the Homeowners) purchased a newly built home in Eagle, Idaho. In 2016, a toilet supply line in one of the bathrooms began leaking, causing water damage to the home as well as to window blinds, an oven and dishwasher. The Homeowners also incurred a loss of rental income. The Homeowners submitted a claim to Safeco Insurance Company (Insurer), their property insurance carrier, who ultimately covered the Homeowners’ losses. Read the court decision
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    Reprinted courtesy of Gus Sara, White and Williams
    Mr. Sara may be contacted at sarag@whiteandwilliams.com

    Bound by Group Builders, Federal District Court Finds No Occurrence

    August 11, 2011 —

    The homeowners sued their contractor, alleging the contractor had defectively constructed and failed to complete their home.  State Farm Fire and Casualty Co. v. Vogelgesang, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 72618 (D. Haw. July 6, 2011).  The homeowners' complaint pled, among other things, damage caused by breach of contract and negligence.  State Farm agreed to defend under a reservation of rights.

    State Farm filed suit in federal court for declaratory relief.  Judge Mollway granted State Farm's motion for summary judgment.  Relying on the Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeal's decision in Group Builders, Inc. v. Admiral Ins. Co., 123 Haw. 142, 231 P.3d 67 (Haw. Ct. App. 2010), Judge Mollway determined that the claims asserted in the underlying litigation arose from the contractor's alleged breach of contract.  Group Builders held that breach of contract claims based on allegations of shoddy performance were not covered under CGL policies.

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    Reprinted courtesy of Tred R. Eyerly, Insurance Law Hawaii. Mr. Eyerly can be contacted at te@hawaiilawyer.com

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    James R. Lynch Appointed to the Washington State Capital Project Review Committee

    June 22, 2016 —
    James R. Lynch, one of the attorneys at the law firm of Ahlers & Cressman PLLC, has been appointed to the Washington State Capital Project Review Committee (PRC). Created by the legislature in 2007, the PRC is responsible for reviewing and approving all public projects in the State of Washington using the General Contractor/Construction Manager (GC/CM) and Design-Build (D-B) delivery methods of construction. The PRC also certifies certain qualified government bodies to use these methods more broadly. The PRC consists of key representatives of Washington public project owners, designers, general contractors, specialty/subcontractors, construction managers, construction trades labor, and minority/women businesses. James has been appointed to the PRC’s Private Sector seat for a three-year term. You may learn more about Ahlers & Cressman PLLC at www.ac-lawyers.com Read the court decision
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