BERT HOWE
  • Nationwide: (800) 482-1822    
    casino resort building expert Seattle Washington townhome construction building expert Seattle Washington hospital construction building expert Seattle Washington landscaping construction building expert Seattle Washington concrete tilt-up building expert Seattle Washington high-rise construction building expert Seattle Washington production housing building expert Seattle Washington office building building expert Seattle Washington institutional building building expert Seattle Washington multi family housing building expert Seattle Washington low-income housing building expert Seattle Washington condominium building expert Seattle Washington mid-rise construction building expert Seattle Washington structural steel construction building expert Seattle Washington custom home building expert Seattle Washington condominiums building expert Seattle Washington Subterranean parking building expert Seattle Washington Medical building building expert Seattle Washington parking structure building expert Seattle Washington custom homes building expert Seattle Washington industrial building building expert Seattle Washington housing building expert Seattle Washington
    Seattle Washington hospital construction expert witnessSeattle Washington structural concrete expertSeattle Washington construction forensic expert witnessSeattle Washington architect expert witnessSeattle Washington expert witness roofingSeattle Washington construction code expert witnessSeattle Washington construction experts
    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


    Ahlers Cressman & Sleight PLLC Recognized Among The Top 50 Construction Law Firms by Construction Executive

    Judge Nixes SC's $100M Claim Over MOX Construction Delays

    Consequential Damage Claims for Insurer's Bad Faith Dismissed

    Eleventh Circuit Finds No Coverage for Faulty Workmanship Claims

    Lewis Brisbois Listed on Leopard Solutions Top 10 Law Firm Index

    New California Construction Law for 2019

    Violation of Prompt Payment Statutes is Not a Breach of Contract. But That’s Not the Most Interesting Part

    Wilke Fleury Attorneys Highlighted | 2019 Northern California Super Lawyers

    Parties Can Agree to Anything In A Settlement Agreement………Or Can They?

    ASBCA Validates New Type of Claim Related to Unfavorable CPARS Review [i]

    Construction is the Fastest Growing Industry in California

    California Supreme Court Finds Vertical Exhaustion Applies to First-Level Excess Policies

    California Supreme Court Protects California Policyholders for Intentional Acts of Employees

    Appeals Court Affirms Carrier’s Duty to Pay Costs Taxed Against Insured in Construction Defect Suit

    Genuine Dispute Over Cause of Damage and Insureds’ Demolition Before Inspection Negate Bad Faith and Elder Abuse Claims

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

    Green Construction Trends Contractors Can Expect in 2019

    What to Do Before OSHA Comes Knocking

    Courts Are Ordering Remote Depositions as the COVID-19 Pandemic Continues

    Brooklyn’s Industry City to Get $1 Billion Modernization

    Competent, Substantial Evidence Carries Day in Bench Trial

    FAA Seeks Largest Fine Yet on Drones in Near-Miss Crackdown

    Best Lawyers® Recognizes 37 White And Williams Lawyers

    California Supreme Court Addresses “Good Faith” Construction Disputes Under Prompt Payment Laws

    Constructive Change Directives / Directed Changes

    Motion to Dismiss Insurer's Counterclaim for Construction Defects Is Granted

    Commercial Construction Heating Up

    Federal Defend Trade Secrets Act Enacted

    24th Annual West Coast Casualty Construction Defect Seminar A Success

    End of an Era: Los Angeles County Superior Court Closes the Personal Injury Hub

    Insurers Must Defend Allegations of Faulty Workmanship

    Arizona Supreme Court Confirms a Prevailing Homeowner Can Recover Fees on Implied Warranty Claims

    Seattle Developer Defaults on Renovated Office Buildings

    Building Amid the COVID Challenge

    Real Estate & Construction News Round-Up (01/25/23) – Artificial Intelligence, Proptech Innovation, and Drone Adoption

    No One to Go After for Construction Defects at Animal Shelter

    Insurer Has Duty to Defend Additional Insured in Construction Defect Case

    Women Make Slow Entry into Building Trades

    Anatomy of a Construction Dispute- An Alternative

    Best Lawyers® Recognizes 29 White and Williams Lawyers

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

    Delay Leads to Problems with Construction Defects

    How Many Homes have Energy-Efficient Appliances?

    Flushing Away Liability: What the Aqua Engineering Case Means for Contractors and Subcontractors

    Motion to Strike Insurer's Expert Opinion Granted

    Four Companies Sued in Pool Electrocution Case

    Product Liability Alert: Evidence of Apportionment of Fault Admissible in Strict Products Liability Action

    Performance Bonds: Follow the Letter of the Bond and Keep The Surety Informed

    How Algorithmic Design Improves Collaboration in Building Design

    Alleged Serious Defects at Hanford Nuclear Waste Treatment Plant
    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

    Key Amendments to Insurance Claims-Handling Regulations in Puerto Rico

    September 23, 2019 —
    Policyholders in Puerto Rico should be aware of significant benefits provided by recent amendments to the Insurance Code. New rules establish an expedited method of property insurance dispute resolution, mandatory expedited partial payments in the event of catastrophic events, and protection against bad faith claims handling by insurers. Appraisal Process with a Puerto Rican Twist A key amendment is the establishment of an appraisal process, widely used for many years in the United States and now adopted in Puerto Rico. Commercial and personal property insurers in Puerto Rico shall include, in their policies, a clause for an appraisal process according to Article 11.150 of the Insurance Code of Puerto Rico, 26 L.P.R.A. § 101 et seq. (“the Code”). The appraisal process provides both policyholders and insurers the option to submit insurance claims to an impartial umpire if a dispute arises over the value of covered damages or losses. The umpire and appraisers do not have authority to resolve coverage or legal issues. They can only resolve disputes over the quantum claimed for losses already determined to be covered by the insurer. Id. Each party is required to pay its own appraiser’s fees and split equally the fees of the umpire. Id. Reprinted courtesy of Andres Avila, Saxe Doernberger & Vita, P.C. and Richard W. Brown, Saxe Doernberger & Vita, P.C. Mr. Avila may be contacted at ara@sdvlaw.com Mr. Brown may be contacted at rwb@sdvlaw.com Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of

    Be Sure to Bring Up Any Mechanic’s Lien Defenses Early and Often

    November 27, 2023 —
    As those of you who regularly read Musings are aware, mechanic’s liens are a big part of my law practice and a big issue here at this construction law blog. I’ve discussed the picky requirements of the mechanic’s lien statutes in Virginia and how the 90 and 150-day rules are strictly enforced. However, a recent case out of the City of Norfolk Virginia Circuit Court cautions that while failure to meet these strict requirements may invalidate a lien, it only does so if the owner or general contractor seeking to invalidate the lien argues the invalidity and/or presents evidence of that invalidity either pretrial or during trial. In Premier Restoration LLC v. Barnes, the Court considered the following facts. The defendant homeowners had a house fire and the resulting damage was the subject of an insurance claim that was paid and checks sent to the homeowners. Premier filed a mechanic’s lien in response to Barnes’s failure to pay for Premier’s restoration construction services after Barnes’s home was destroyed by fire. Premier seeks a decree to enforce the lien, asking the court to order the sale of Barnes’s property to recover its damages or, alternatively, a judgment in its favor. With the Complaint seeking enforcement of the lien and damages for breach of contract, and this is a key point, Premier provided a copy of the mechanic’s lien along with the affidavit that is part of the statutory form swearing that the Owner was justly indebted to Premiere. The homeowners filed a counterclaim for unfinished work, including unfinished punch list work. After a trial during which no evidence regarding either the timeliness of the lien recording or whether any of the work sought to be encompassed in the lien was performed outside of the statutory 150-day window was presented by either side, the defendants filed a post-trial motion seeking to invalidate the lien as including sums for work outside of the 150-day window. Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of The Law Office of Christopher G. Hill
    Mr. Hill may be contacted at chrisghill@constructionlawva.com

    Mediation Fails In Federal Lawsuit Seeking Damages From Sureties for Alleged Contract Fraud

    August 17, 2020 —
    After mediation failed, a federal whistle blower lawsuit over alleged fraud against two contractors, which also targets sureties and a surety bond producer, is moving forward. The parties have asked a U.S. district court judge in Washington, D.C. to rule on outstanding motions in preparation for a possible trial. Richard Korman, Engineering News-Record Mr. Korman may be contacted at kormanr@enr.com Read the full story... Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of

    Engineer Probing Champlain Towers Debacle Eyes Possibility of Three Successive Collapses

    July 05, 2021 —
    Though the trigger may remain a mystery for some time, by the end of the week, the structural engineer probing the partial progressive collapse of a 40-year-old Surfside, Fla., residential condominium expects to complete a computer model of the unstable, 12-story remains of the building. The computer model of the still-standing wing of Champlain Towers South will initially be used to alert the search and rescue team to suspend operations if a hurricane is coming. Reprinted courtesy of Nadine M. Post, Engineering News-Record Ms. Post may be contacted at postn@enr.com Read the full story... Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of

    Sewage Flowing in London’s River Thames Draws Green Bond Demand

    April 04, 2022 —
    The green bond market just got one of its biggest challenges yet -- cleaning up London’s River Thames. A sale of the notes aims to help to fund upgrades to the city’s Victorian-era sewers, as population growth in London heaps increasing pressure on them. Designed to serve about 4 million people, the sewers instead handle waste from more than double that number, leading to multiple sewage overflows every year. Bazalgette Finance Plc sold 300 million pounds ($400 million) of green bonds Thursday to fund construction of a 25-kilometer tunnel to prevent millions of tonnes of sewage overflowing into the river. The 12-year notes were priced at 130 basis points above U.K. gilts, drawing investor orders of more than four times the amount on offer, according to a person with knowledge of the sale, who asked not to be named. The bond proceeds will be given to Bazalgette Tunnel Ltd for the ongoing construction of the Thames Tideway Tunnel, which is expected to be completed in 2023, according to the Tideway website. The 66 meter-deep tunnel is more than seven meters wide and will cost an estimated 4.2 billion pounds ($5.6 billion) at completion, according to an investor presentation seen by Bloomberg News. Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of Ronan Martin, Bloomberg

    Homeowner Loses Suit against Architect and Contractor of Resold Home

    June 14, 2011 —

    The California Court of Appeals in the case of Kizor v. Architects ruled that Mr. Kizor could not make construction defect claims against the architect and contractor of his home, as the defects had caused significant damage to the former owners, and it was they, not Kizor, who could have asserted those claims.

    The background of the case was that John and Miranda Redig hired BRU Architects to design a home. During construction in 2000, they wrote to the roofing supplier complaining about leaks. The leaks were caulked, but the roof continued leaking during rains. The Redigs sold their house to Kizor in 2002, with an addendum to the sale contract protecting themselves from liability for further problems with the roof. “Seller has no responsibility for the condition of the roof and stucco and buyer absolves seller of any liability in connection therewith.”

    In 2006, Kizor sued the architects, contractor, and subcontractor. The defendants moved for summary judgment which was granted. Kizor appealed, and in this current court case, appeal was denied.

    Read the court’s decision

    Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of

    Don MacGregor of Bert L. Howe & Associates Awarded Silver Star Award at WCC Construction Defect Seminar

    May 24, 2018 —
    The staff of the Construction Defect Journal would like to extend their congratulations to Don MacGregor of Bert L. Howe & Associates, Inc., in recognition of his receipt of the Silver Star Award as “Best Expert” at the 25th Anniversary of the West Coast Casualty Construction Defect Seminar, hosted at the Disneyland Resort Hotel, in Anaheim CA. Recipients of the Silver Star Awards were nominated and voted on by their peers, colleagues, and the Construction Defect Community at large, as represented by the 25,000 members who received emails on the subject. Along with “Best Expert,” recognition was also given to the best judge, mediator, plaintiff attorney, developer attorney, subcontractor attorney, coverage counsel, and insurance claims professional. Awards were handed out last Thursday during a special ceremony at this year’s Seminar. To Don, and all the worthy awardees, congratulations again! Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of

    Subcontractors Have a Duty to Clarify Ambiguities in Bid Documents

    August 19, 2015 —
    Several months ago, I wrote about an escalator subcontractor that sued a general contractor, demanding payment for work completed based on approved shop drawings. The trial court agreed with the subcontractor, but the general contractor appealed. Ten months later, the Court of Appeals reversed, finding that the subcontractor had a duty to bring to the general contractor’s attention major discrepancies or errors they detect in the bid documents.
    “The subcontractor failed to disclose ambiguities in the plans and must suffer the peril.”
    Construction Difficulties The subcontractor installed 32 inch escalators throughout the project, but the plans called for 40 inch escalators. The general contractor and subcontractor could not reach agreement on how the dispute should be resolved. The subcontractor sued the general to get paid for replacing the escalators and the general sued to subcontractor for concessions it had to pay to the owner. 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