BERT HOWE
  • Nationwide: (800) 482-1822    
    retail construction building expert Seattle Washington hospital construction building expert Seattle Washington condominiums building expert Seattle Washington custom homes building expert Seattle Washington industrial building building expert Seattle Washington mid-rise construction building expert Seattle Washington Medical building building expert Seattle Washington tract home building expert Seattle Washington concrete tilt-up building expert Seattle Washington multi family housing building expert Seattle Washington office building building expert Seattle Washington Subterranean parking building expert Seattle Washington landscaping construction building expert Seattle Washington townhome construction building expert Seattle Washington custom home building expert Seattle Washington casino resort building expert Seattle Washington parking structure building expert Seattle Washington low-income housing building expert Seattle Washington housing building expert Seattle Washington condominium building expert Seattle Washington structural steel construction building expert Seattle Washington production housing building expert Seattle Washington
    Seattle Washington construction expert testimonySeattle Washington contractor expert witnessSeattle Washington construction expert witness consultantSeattle Washington eifs expert witnessSeattle Washington expert witness windowsSeattle Washington stucco expert witnessSeattle Washington building code 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


    Supreme Court of New Jersey Reviews Statutes of Limitation and the Discovery Rule in Construction Defect Cases

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

    Construction Termination Issues Part 5: What if You are the One that Wants to Quit?

    Building with Recycled Plastics – Interview with Jeff Mintz of Envirolastech

    Trump Soho May Abandon Condos to Operate Mainly as Hotel

    Federal Court Again Confirms No Coverage For Construction Defects in Hawaii

    Meet Daniel Hall, Assistant Professor at TU Delft

    Certificate of Merit to Sue Architects or Engineers Bill Proposed

    Alabama “occurrence” and subcontractor work exception to the “your completed work” exclusion

    Why Metro Atlanta Is the Poster Child for the US Housing Crisis

    Multifamily Building Pushes New Jersey to Best Year since 2007

    No Duty to Defend Construction Defect Claims

    Empowering Success: The Advantages of Female Attorneys in Construction Defect Law

    A Lien Might Just Save Your Small Construction Business

    Sept. 11 Victims Rejected by U.S. High Court on Lawsuit

    Real Estate & Construction News Roundup (07/05/23) – A Hospitality Strike in Southern California, Agencies Step in With Lenders and the Social in ESG

    Taking Advantage of New Tax Credits and Prevailing Wage Bonuses Under the Inflation Reduction Act for Clean Energy Construction Projects

    Nevada Judge says Class Analysis Not Needed in Construction Defect Case

    U.S. Housing Starts Top Forecast on Single-Family Homes

    EPA Issues New PFAS Standard, Provides $1B for Testing, Cleanup of 'Forever Chemicals'

    Case Remanded for Application of Efficient Proximate Cause Doctrine

    Appellate Court Reinforces When the Attorney-Client Relationship Ends for Purposes of “Continuous Representation” Tolling Provision of Legal Malpractice Statute of Limitations

    Florida’s Statute of Limitations / Repose for Actions Founded on Construction Improvement Modified

    New Rule Prohibits Use of Funds For Certain DoD Construction and Infrastructure Programs and Projects

    Heads I Win, Tails You Lose. Court Finds Indemnity Provision Went Too Far

    Plaintiffs In Construction Defect Cases to Recover For Emotional Damages?

    Vietnam Expands Arrests in Coffee Region Property Probe

    Saudi Arabia Awards Contracts for Megacity Neom’s Worker Housing

    Sinking Buildings on the Rise?

    No Coverage for Property Damage That is Limited to Work Completed by Subcontractor

    Broker Not Negligent When Insured Rejects Additional Coverage

    A Lot of Cheap Housing Is About to Get Very Expensive

    Alert: AAA Construction Industry Rules Update

    Will There Be Construction Defect Legislation Introduced in the 2019 Colorado Legislative Session?

    Surplus Lines Carriers Cannot Compel Arbitration in Louisiana

    Bond Principal Necessary on a Mechanic’s Lien Claim

    Arizona Court Cites California Courts to Determine Construction Defect Coverage is Time Barred

    Eighth Circuit Rejects Retroactive Application of Construction Defect Legislation

    The Relevance and Reasonableness of Destructive Testing

    Property Damage, Occurrences, Delays, Offsets and Fees. California Decision is a Smorgasbord of Construction Insurance Issues

    Can Your Small Business Afford to Risk the Imminent Threat of a Cyber Incident?

    Margins May Shrink for Home Builders

    Connecticut Federal District Court Follows Majority Rule on Insurance Policy Anti-Assignment Clauses

    The First UK Hospital Being Built Using AI Technology

    How to Protect the High-Tech Home

    Data Is Critical for the Future of Construction

    Superior Court Of Pennsylvania Holds Curb Construction Falls Within The Scope Of CASPA

    Court Addresses HOA Attempt to Restrict Short Term Rentals

    Overruling Henkel, California Supreme Court Validates Assignment of Policies

    Homeowner Sues Brick Manufacturer for Spalling Bricks
    Corporate Profile

    SEATTLE WASHINGTON BUILDING EXPERT
    DIRECTORY AND CAPABILITIES

    The Seattle, Washington Building Expert Group is comprised from a number of credentialed construction professionals possessing extensive trial support experience relevant to construction defect and claims matters. Leveraging from more than 25 years experience, BHA provides construction related trial support and expert services to the nation's most recognized construction litigation practitioners, Fortune 500 builders, commercial general liability carriers, owners, construction practice groups, and a variety of state and local government agencies.

    Building Expert News & Info
    Seattle, Washington

    Governor Brown Signs Legislation Aimed at Curbing ADA Accessibility Abuses in California

    June 02, 2016 —
    This past week Governor Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 269. The new law is the latest attempt to curb lawsuits brought under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“ADA”) and related states laws which many businesses and governmental entities have called unfair and predatory. Others, have used more colorful descriptions. The ADA Debate At the heart of the debate is a small but growing number of ADA plaintiffs who regularly sue businesses and governmental entities alleging that their properties do not provide equal access to disabled individuals. These ADA plaintiffs and their attorneys, including other members of the disabled community, argue that these lawsuits improve access to places of public accommodation by disabled individuals, are permitted under the law, and that the businesses and government agencies they sue can’t be heard to complain since the ADA has been on the books for over twenty-five years. Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of Garret Murai, Wendel Rosen Black & Dean LLP
    Mr. Murai may be contacted at gmurai@wendel.com

    SB800 CONFIRMED AS EXCLUSIVE REMEDY FOR CONSTRUCTION DEFECT CLAIMS

    January 24, 2018 —
    In McMillin Albany LLC v. Superior Court (Cal. Ct. App., Aug. 26, 2015) 2015 Daily Journal D.A.R. 9931 (“McMillin”), the Fifth Appellate District Court of Appeal in California published a resounding win for builders, general contractors, and others entities seeking the protections of the Right to Repair Act, Civil Code sections 895, et seq. (“SB800”). The McMillin Court firmly rejected the reasoning and outcome of both Liberty Mutual Ins. Co. v. Brookfield Crystal Cove LLC (2013) 219 Cal.App.4th 98 (“Liberty Mutual”) and Burch v. Superior Court (2014) 223 Cal.App.4th 1411 (“Burch”), and held that:
    the Legislature intended that all claims arising out of defects in residential construction, involving new residences sold on or after January 1, 2003 (§ 938), be subject to the standards and the requirements of the Act; the homeowner bringing such a claim must give notice to the builder and engage in the prelitigation procedures in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 4 of the Act prior to filing suit in court.
    (McMillin, Opinion, p. 15.) The McMillin Court further held that even if the claimant’s counsel intentionally pleads around SB800 by asserting only tort causes of action, SB800 still applies to all defect claims and a stay of the action to require SB800 compliance is appropriate. Newmeyer & Dillion has strongly supported builders’ efforts to enforce the Right to Repair Act since its inception. The firm filed an amicus brief in McMillin on behalf of Leading Builders of America (“LBA”), an association of the leading residential homebuilders in the United States. For years, LBA members developed their warranty and dispute resolution procedures according to the Right to Repair Act and performed prelitigation repairs to the satisfaction of thousands of homeowners. Liberty Mutual and Burch undermined the Right to Repair Act by allowing plaintiffs’ attorneys to circumvent the prelitigation procedures to the detriment of homeowners and builders, resulting in confusion and increased litigation. The McMillin decision breathes new life into the Right to Repair Act and sets the stage for future review by the California Supreme Court. The McMillin Court focused on the express language of the Right to Repair Act to arrive at its conclusion that Civil Code sections 896, 897, 943 and 944 demonstrate a clear Legislative intent to occupy the field of construction defect litigation – a belief held by nearly all in the construction industry and the California Superior Courts before Liberty Mutual. The McMillin Court found further support for SB800’s comprehensive nature in the Legislative history, which consistently described the Act as “groundbreaking reform” and a “major change” in construction defect litigation, designed to “significantly reduce the cost of construction defect litigation and make housing more affordable.” (McMillin, Opinion, pp. 18-19.) The McMillin Court found it inescapable that the Right to Repair Act exclusively governs construction defect litigation involving homes sold on or after January 1, 2003. The McMillin, decision will have a significant impact on construction litigation moving forward in two respects. First, McMillin, is the only appellate decision to date to address whether a builder has the right to enforce SB800 when the claimant’s counsel deliberately attempts to plead around SB800 by asserting only tort claims. Second, the decision provides trial courts with the authority and precedent to ensure compliance with the Right to Repair Act. Trial courts may also find it necessary to revisit prior rulings against builders that relied on Liberty Mutual. Newmeyer & Dillion will continue to advocate in support of builders and general contractors by working vigorously to gain further support for the McMillin, decision and setting the stage for review by the California Supreme Court. Jeffrey R. Brower is an associate at the Newport Beach office of Newmeyer & Dillion, LLP. His practice focuses on business and construction litigation. Jeffrey can be reached at jeffrey.brower@ndlf.com. Nathan Owens is the managing partner of the Las Vegas office for Newmeyer & Dillion, LLP. He represents businesses and individuals operating in a wide array of economic sectors including real estate, construction, insurance and health care in all stages of litigation in state and federal court. Nathan can be reached at nathan.owens@ndlf.com. About Newmeyer & Dillion For more than 30 years, Newmeyer & Dillion has delivered creative and outstanding legal solutions and trial results for a wide array of clients. With over 70 attorneys practicing in all aspects of business, employment, real estate, construction and insurance law, Newmeyer & Dillion delivers legal services tailored to meet each client’s needs. Headquartered in Newport Beach, California, with offices in Walnut Creek, California and Las Vegas, Nevada, Newmeyer & Dillion attorneys are recognized by The Best Lawyers in America©, and Super Lawyers as top tier and some of the best lawyers in California, and have been given Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review's AV Preeminent® highest rating. For additional information, call 949.854.7000 or visit www.ndlf.com Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of

    Narrow House Has Wide Opposition

    January 17, 2013 —
    A small building project on Staten Island is causing some big complaints. While many residents of the area are still dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, residents in the Port Richmond neighborhood are concerned about a house that is being built on a lot that at its widest is only seventeen feet. On the other end, the lot is only eleven feet wide. Initially, the Staten Island did not give permission to build on the Orange Avenue lot, but the developer went to the city’s Board of Standards and Appeals who gave permission. The daughter of one neighbor described the foundation as looking “like a swimming pool, not a house.” Her mother’s house has a 40-foot frontage. Another neighbor (37-foot frontage) described the plans to build the narrow house as “pretty stupid.” Work currently stopped on the building over complaints that the site’s fence was incomplete. After the developer repairs the fence, the site needs to be inspected before work continues. Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of

    The Law Clinic Paves Way to the Digitalization of Built Environment Processes

    February 11, 2019 —
    The Law Clinic offers legal advice on digitalization to built environment innovators and experimenters and in the process helps lawmakers find the pain points in legislation. In April 2018 the Finnish Ministry of the Environment launched an experimental legal service for real estate and construction professionals, municipalities, and lawmakers. The cost-free service is like a helpdesk for anyone who has questions about real estate and construction laws and regulations and their interpretation as it applies to new digital processes. The Law Clinic is part of the national KIRA-digi project, which includes 138 experiments, many of which need legal advice for their execution. Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of Aarni Heiskanen, AEC Business
    Mr. Heiskanen may be contacted at aec-business@aepartners.fi

    Real Estate & Construction News Round-Up (02/08/23) – The Build America, Buy America Act, ESG Feasibility, and University Partnerships

    February 27, 2023 —
    This week’s round-up explores President Joe Biden’s recent State of the Union address and plans for the Build America, Buy America Act, the feasibility of real estate companies achieving their ESG goals, and how developers, lenders, and tenants are partnering with universities to solve real estate challenges.
    • During his annual State of the Union address, President Joe Biden detailed his Build America, Buy America plans and standard to require all construction materials on federal infrastructure projects to be made in the United States. (Jennifer Goodman & Zachary Phillips, Construction Dive)
    • Speculation surrounding the economic environment and real estate stability is testing the feasibility and resilience of the environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) framework used by corporations to measure their societal impact. (Anna Staropoli, Commercial Observer)
    • Adopting Web3 and decentralization in the real estate industry is projected to bring about significant changes and improvements. (David Bitton, Forbes)
    Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of Pillsbury's Construction & Real Estate Law Team

    Ornate Las Vegas Palace Rented by Michael Jackson for Sale

    August 13, 2014 —
    A unique and ornate palace for sale in Las Vegas was home to Michael Jackson in the strange and isolated years before his death. In fact, the King of Pop was the last tenant in the 24,000-square-foot estate, and his portrait still hangs above the fireplace. Jackson eschewed the main house and lived in the guest villa while he was rehearsing for his Las Vegas show, The One, from 2007-2009, according to listing agent Eddy Martinez of Miami Beach-based Worldwide Properties. To avoid the paparazzi, Jackson traveled through a tunnel under the main house and got directly into a car parked at the end of it, Martinez said. The Hacienda Palomino has only had two owners since theater developer Horst Schmidt built it in 1952. The home at 2710 Palomino Ln is "enchanting," said Martinez, and the property's unique features — including a musical note insignia used as an architectural feature — intrigued the late superstar. Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of Emily Heffter, Bloomberg

    Insured's Collapse Claim Survives Summary Judgment

    October 28, 2024 —
    The insurer's motion for summary judgment seeking to dispose of the insured's claim for collapse was denied. Life Skills, Inc. v. Harleysville Ins. Co., 2024 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 143658 (D. Mass. Aug. 13, 2024). Life Skills was a non-profit social service agency providing residential and day habilitation services to adults with autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities. The head office was covered by a policy issued by Harleysville with building coverage limits of $3,038,300. Damage occurred in a ceramics classroom located in the basement of the building. The floor sank between eight to twelve inches in the northeast corner. The ceramics classroom contained two large kilns weighing approximately 200 pounds. 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

    Remote Work Issues to Consider in Light of COVID-19

    March 23, 2020 —
    Many employers have elected to implement a remote work policy in light of the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. If you are one of them, you should consider the following as you transition your workforce to a remote working environment. Preliminary Steps The first step prior to implementation is ensuring that you have sufficient technological infrastructure and capabilites. You should assess what types of equipment (e.g., desktop computers, laptops, phones, printers, and office supplies) your employees will need to work remotely, and ensure that there is sufficient inventory and that employees can gain access to the equipment. You should also confirm that you have data security measures in place and brief employees on best practices for security and protection of data. You should refer employees to your organization’s technology policy regarding the safeguarding of data. If none exist, you should strongly consider creating and implementing one. One of the more important aspects of any policy is restrictions on where employees may work remotely. For example, some employers prohibit employees from working remotely on public wifi networks due to security concerns. Whether these or other policies are right for your organization depends on the nature of your work and data, security measures you have in place, and your risk tolerance. Beyond technology issues, you should prepare a checklist of necessary work items and materials that employees will need to perform their jobs remotely. You should also clearly communicate to employees which items may be removed from the workplace and taken home and which should remain. Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of Philip K. Lem, Payne & Fears
    Mr. Lem may be contacted at pkl@paynefears.com