BERT HOWE
  • Nationwide: (800) 482-1822    
    structural steel construction building expert Seattle Washington high-rise construction building expert Seattle Washington landscaping construction building expert Seattle Washington custom homes building expert Seattle Washington institutional building building expert Seattle Washington retail construction building expert Seattle Washington office building building expert Seattle Washington casino resort building expert Seattle Washington condominium building expert Seattle Washington Subterranean parking building expert Seattle Washington parking structure building expert Seattle Washington concrete tilt-up building expert Seattle Washington multi family housing building expert Seattle Washington hospital construction building expert Seattle Washington housing building expert Seattle Washington low-income housing building expert Seattle Washington custom home building expert Seattle Washington mid-rise construction building expert Seattle Washington production housing building expert Seattle Washington Medical building building expert Seattle Washington condominiums building expert Seattle Washington townhome construction building expert Seattle Washington
    Seattle Washington consulting architect expert witnessSeattle Washington slope failure expert witnessSeattle Washington roofing and waterproofing expert witnessSeattle Washington consulting engineersSeattle Washington delay claim expert witnessSeattle Washington construction project management expert witnessesSeattle Washington construction cost estimating 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


    A General Contractors Guide to Bond Thresholds by State

    Rams Owner Stan Kroenke Debuts His $5.5 Billion Dream Stadium

    Cal/OSHA-Approved Changes to ETS Will Take Effect May 6, 2022

    Newport Beach Attorneys John Toohey and Nick Rodriguez Receive Full Defense Verdict

    Tarriffs, a Pandemic and War: Construction Contracts Must Withstand the Unforeseeable

    What You Need to Know About “Ipso Facto” Clauses and Their Impact on Termination of a Contractor or Subcontractor in a Bankruptcy

    Landlords Beware: Subordination Agreements

    Report to Congress Calls for Framework to Cut Post-Quake Recovery Time

    Lawyer Claims HOA Scam Mastermind Bribed Politicians

    Loss Ensuing from Alleged Faulty Workmanship is Covered

    Ten ACS Lawyers Recognized as Super Lawyers or Rising Stars

    Julie Firestone & Francois Ecclesiaste Recognized as 2023 MSBA North Star Lawyers

    Short-Term Rental Legislation & Litigation On the Way!

    Return-to-Workplace Checklist: Considerations and Emerging Best Practices for Employers

    COVID-19 Business Closure and Continuity Compliance Resource

    Colorado Construction-Defects Reform Law Attempt Expected in 2015

    Bank of America’s Countrywide Ordered to Pay $1.3 Billion

    Providing Notice of Claims Under Your Construction Contract

    BHA Expands Construction Experts Group

    Idaho Construction Executive Found Guilty of Fraud and Tax Evasion

    Microwave Transmission of Space-Based Solar Power: The Focus of New Attention

    Reminder: Pay if Paid Not All Encompassing (but Could it be?)

    Stop by BHA’s Booth at WCC and Support the Susan G. Komen Foundation

    Eleven Payne & Fears Attorneys Honored by Best Lawyers

    Review of Recent Contractors State License Board Changes

    Renovation Contractors: Be Careful How You Disclose Your Projects

    Update Regarding New York City’s Climate Mobilization Act (CMA) and the Reduction of Carbon Emissions in New York City

    London's Walkie Talkie Tower Voted Britain's Worst New Building

    Real Estate & Construction News Roundup (1/30/24) – Life Science Construction to Increase, Overall Homeownership Is Majority Female, and Senators Urge Fed Chair to Lower Interest Rates

    Condo Board May Be Negligent for not Filing Construction Defect Suit in a Timely Fashion

    EPA Coal Ash Cleanup Rule Changes Send Utilities, Agencies Back to Drawing Board

    Court Holds That Property Insurance Does Not Cover Economic Loss From Purchasing Counterfeit Vintage Wine

    Limitation on Coverage for Payment of Damages Creates Ambiguity

    Providing “Labor” Under the Miller Act

    Coverage, Bad Faith Upheld In Construction Defect Case

    South Carolina School District Investigated by IRS and FBI

    Select the Best Contract Model to Mitigate Risk and Achieve Energy Project Success

    Washington School District Sues Construction Company Over Water Pipe Damage

    Michigan Claims Engineers’ Errors Prolonged Corrosion

    Three Kahana Feld Attorneys Selected to 2024 NY Metro Super Lawyers Lists

    Orange County Team Obtains Unanimous Defense Verdict in Case Involving Failed Real Estate Transaction

    Haight Expands California Reach – Opens Office in Sacramento

    Assert a Party’s Noncompliance of Conditions Precedent with Particularity

    Sellers of South Florida Mansion Failed to Disclose Construction Defects

    Insured's Motion for Reconsideration on Denial of Coverage Unsuccessful

    Free Texas MCLE Seminar at BHA Houston June 13th

    Insurers' Motion to Determine Lack of Occurrence Fails

    Court Orders House to be Demolished or Relocated

    Agile Project Management in the Construction Industry

    CGL Coverage for Liquidated Damages and the Contractual Liability Exclusion
    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

    'There Was No Fighting This Fire,' California Survivor Says

    September 14, 2020 —
    Berry Creek, Calif. (AP) -- John Sykes built his life around his cabin in the dense woods of Northern California. He raised his two children there, expanded it and improved it over time and made it resilient to all kinds of disaster except fire. So when the winds started howling Tuesday and the skies became so dark from smoke that he had to turn on his lights at midday, he didn’t hesitate to leave it all behind in an instant before any evacuation order. With the disaster two years ago in nearby Paradise, in which 85 people perished in the deadliest and most destructive fire in modern state history, still fresh on his mind, Sykes got his wife and a friend into his car and left with only a change of clothes each. “All I could do is look in the rear view mirror and see orange sky and a mushroom cloud and that told me it was hot and to keep going,” Sykes said Friday. “It was a terrifying feeling.” Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of Bloomberg

    Home Prices in 20 U.S. Cities Increase at Slower Pace

    February 25, 2014 —
    Home prices in the U.S. climbed at a slower pace in the year through December, pointing to a moderation in the market that will help keep more properties within reach for prospective buyers. The S&P/Case-Shiller index of property values in 20 cities rose 13.4 percent from December 2012 after increasing 13.7 percent in the year ended in November, the group said today in New York. It was the first deceleration since June. The gain matched the median estimate of 33 economists surveyed by Bloomberg. Price appreciation is slowing as rising mortgage rates combined with harsh winter weather to cool home purchases over the past few months. Smaller increases mean more homes will remain affordable as the labor market improves, helping maintain the rebound in residential real estate that has boosted growth. Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of Victoria Stilwell, Bloomberg
    Ms. Stilwell may be contacted at vstilwell1@bloomberg.net

    Contractor Sentenced to Seven Years for Embezzling $3 Million

    July 20, 2020 —
    Michael Medeiros was not a good guy. Ok, on a scale of 1 to 10, maybe not a 9 or 10 (when you’re including guys like Charles Manson), but a solid 6 or 7 at least. The next case, People v. Medeiros, Case No. A155648, 1st District Court of Appeals (March 26, 2020), is less important for its legal holding than as a reminder that while most legal disputes on construction projects end up with one party owing the other party money, sometimes, when a party’s conduct has been really bad, it can end in a loss of liberty (i.e., jail time) as well. People v. Medeiros Medeiros was a painting contractor operating under the name Professional Painting Company, Inc. In the early 1990s, Medeiros met Susan Lambert, who served as the property manager for a homeowners’ association, Woodlake Association, in Hayward, California. Lambert was an alcoholic. Following a series of surgeries in 2005 and 2007 she became addicted to opiates as well. She also had a gambling problem. As a result, Lambert regularly found herself in financial difficulty. And this is where Lambert and Medeiros found that they shared common ground. At some point, Medeiros confided to Lambert that he was having cash flow and tax problems. Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of Garret Murai, Nomos LLP
    Mr. Murai may be contacted at gmurai@nomosllp.com

    Intentionally Set Atlanta Interstate Fire Closes Artery Until June

    April 05, 2017 —
    Crews from C.W. Matthews Contracting Co., Marietta, Ga., are removing debris from an Interstate 85 bridge in Atlanta that collapsed during a March 30 rush-hour fire. No injuries were reported, but the incident forced an extended closure of the highway section. Investigators say the fire was intentionally set inside a fenced Georgia Dept. of Transportation surplus equipment storage area beneath the structure, and it intensified after spreading to a stockpile of polyethylene and fiberglass conduit. Flames and high temperatures subsequently compromised the bridge’s structural integrity. Authorities have charged one individual with arson and first-degree criminal damage to property, while two others were cited for criminal trespass. Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of Engineering News-Record
    ENR may be contacted at ENR.com@bnpmedia.com

    Jason Smith and Teddie Arnold Co-Author Updated “United States – Construction” Chapter in 2024 Legal 500: Country Comparative Guides

    May 28, 2024 —
    Jason Smith and Teddie Arnold, partners in Seyfarth’s Washington, DC office, have co-authored an updated “United States – Construction” chapter in the 2024 edition of The Legal 500: Country Comparative Guides. Seyfarth continues to participate as an exclusive contributor for this comprehensive overview of construction-specific laws and regulations in the United States. Topics covered include, but are not limited to, requirements and obligations, permits and licencing, procurement, financing and security, and disputes, as well as insight and opinion on current challenges and opportunities. To access and download a copy of the chapter, click here. Reprinted courtesy of Jason N. Smith, Seyfarth and Edward V. Arnold, Seyfarth Mr. Smith may be contacted at jnsmith@seyfarth.com Mr. Arnold may be contacted at earnold@seyfarth.com Read the full story... Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of

    Sixth Circuit Rejects Claim for Reverse Bad Faith

    June 17, 2015 —
    The Sixth Circuit rejected the insurer's claim for reverse bad faith against its insured who made a fraudulent claim after her home was destroyed by fire. State Auto Property and Cas. Ins. Co. v. Hargis, 2015 U.S. App. LEXIS 7475 (6th Cir. April 23, 2015). The insured's home burned to the ground early one morning. She filed what she would later admit was a fraudulent insurance claim with State Auto for approximately $866,000. State Auto paid in excess of $425,000 before filing an action to declare the policy void. State Farm's investigation eventually led to the insured's admission that she had a friend burn down her house to collect insurance proceeds. An indictment was issued and the insured pled guilty. She was sentenced to a 60-month term and was ordered to pay restitution to State Auto totaling $672,497. 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

    Construction Contracts and The Uniform Commercial Code: When Does it Apply and Understanding the Pre-Dominant Factor Test

    November 01, 2022 —
    The Uniform Commercial Code (“UCC”) replaces the common law in many commercial transactions, providing provisions and a framework governing the conduct of business. The UCC attempts to develop uniformity among state laws on commercial matters as many of these contracts involve parties from different states. The UCC has been adopted in almost all states, including Washington, and substantially mirror each other throughout the country. The question that is most commonly presented, in the Construction law context, is when does the UCC apply and control? Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of Keith Sparks, Ahlers Cressman & Sleight PLLC
    Mr. Sparks may be contacted at keith.sparks@acslawyers.com

    Sometimes You Get Away with Unwritten Contracts. . .

    July 28, 2018 —
    I have spoken often regarding the need for a well written construction contract that sets out the “terms of engagement” for your construction project. A written construction contract sets expectations and allows the parties to the contract to determine the “law” of their project. An unwritten “gentleman’s agreement” can lead to confusion, faulty memories, and more money paid to construction counsel than you would like as we lawyers play around in the grey areas. One other area where the written versus unwritten distinction makes a difference is in the calculation of the statute of limitations. In Virginia, a 5 year statute of limitations applies to written contracts while a 3 year statute of limitations applies to unwritten contracts. This distinction came into stark relief in the case of M&C Hauling & Constr. Inc. v. Wilbur Hale in the Fairfax, Virginia Circuit Court. In M&C Hauling, M&C provided hauling services to the defendant through a subcontract with Hauling Unlimited in 2014, the last of which was in July. M&C provided over 2000 hours of hauling and provided time tickets (that were passed to Mr. Hale on Hauling Unlimited letterhead and signed by Mr. Hale or his agent) and an invoice stating the price term of $75.00 per hour. No separate written contract between M&C and Hauling Unlimited or Mr. Hale existed. Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of Christopher G. Hill, The Law Office of Christopher G. Hill
    Mr. Hill may be contacted at chrisghill@constructionlawva.com