BERT HOWE
  • Nationwide: (800) 482-1822    
    casino resort building expert Seattle Washington custom home building expert Seattle Washington custom homes building expert Seattle Washington townhome construction building expert Seattle Washington office building building expert Seattle Washington hospital construction building expert Seattle Washington mid-rise construction building expert Seattle Washington Medical building building expert Seattle Washington retail construction building expert Seattle Washington condominium building expert Seattle Washington institutional building building expert Seattle Washington condominiums building expert Seattle Washington low-income housing building expert Seattle Washington Subterranean parking building expert Seattle Washington industrial building building expert Seattle Washington multi family housing building expert Seattle Washington landscaping construction building expert Seattle Washington tract home building expert Seattle Washington high-rise construction building expert Seattle Washington housing building expert Seattle Washington structural steel construction building expert Seattle Washington concrete tilt-up building expert Seattle Washington
    Seattle Washington construction expert witness consultantSeattle Washington engineering expert witnessSeattle Washington roofing construction expertSeattle Washington engineering consultantSeattle Washington construction project management expert witnessesSeattle Washington building envelope expert witnessSeattle Washington expert witnesses fenestration
    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


    Courts Will Not Second-Guess Public Entities When it Comes to Design Immunity

    Fee Simple!

    The Utility of Arbitration Agreements in the Construction Industry

    Real Estate & Construction News Roundup (7/10/24) – Strong Construction Investment in Data Centers, Increase Use of Proptech in Hospitality and Effects of Remote-Work on Housing Market

    Handshake Deals Gone Wrong

    Revel Closing Shows Gambling Is No Sure Thing for Renewal

    ASCE Statement on House Passage of the Water Resources Development Act of 2024

    “Source of Duty,” Tort, and Contract, Oh My!

    Risky Business: Contractual Protections in the 'New Normal'

    Coverage, Bad Faith Upheld In Construction Defect Case

    The Biggest Change to the Mechanics Lien Law Since 1963

    Autovol’s Affordable Housing Project with Robotic Automation

    New Iowa Law Revises Construction Defects Statute of Repose

    Chambers USA 2021 Recognizes Five Partners and Two Practices at Lewis Brisbois

    Bailout for an Improperly Drafted Indemnification Provision

    School District Settles Over Defective Athletic Field

    Congratulations 2024 DE, MA, MD, NJ, NY, and PA Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

    Real Estate & Construction News Roundup (04/18/23) – Clean Energy, Critical Infrastructure and Commercial Concerns

    Colorado Senate Revives Construction Defects Reform Bill

    Designers George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg Discuss One57’s Ultra-Luxury Park Hyatt

    New FAR Rule Mandates the Use of PLAs on Large Construction Projects

    Top 10 Take-Aways from the 2024 Annual Forum Meeting in New Orleans

    The Independent Tort Doctrine (And Its Importance)

    Oregon Condo Owners Make Construction Defect Claim

    First Railroad Bridge Between Russia and China Set to Open

    Keep It Simple: Summarize (Voluminous Evidence, That Is...)

    UCP Buys Citizen Homes

    Considering Stormwater Management

    Economic Damages and the Right to Repair Act: You Can’t Have it Both Ways

    Taking Care of Infrastructure – Interview with Marilyn Grabowski

    Contract Change #8: Direct Communications between Owners and Contractors (law note)

    Safety Guidance for the Prevention of the Coronavirus on Construction Sites

    Balancing Risk and Reward: The Complexities of Stadium Construction Projects

    Anatomy of a Data Center

    Vertical vs. Horizontal Exhaustion – California Supreme Court Issues Ruling Favorable to Policyholders

    OSHA Set to Tag More Firms as Severe Violators Under New Criteria

    So, You Have a Judgment Against a California Contractor or Subcontractor. What Next? How Can I Enforce Payment?

    Companies Move to Houston Area and Spur Home Building

    Maryland Contractor Documents its Illegal Deal and Pays $2.15 Million to Settle Fraud Claims

    Nevada HOA Criminal Investigation Moving Slowly

    Spreading Cracks On FIU Bridge Failed to Alarm Project Team

    Occurrence Found, Business Risk Exclusions Do Not Bar Coverage for Construction Defects

    Labor Shortage Confirmed Through AGC Poll

    Kiewit and Two Ex-Managers Face Canada Jobsite Fatality Criminal Trial

    When is an Indemnification Provision Unenforceable?

    Flood Insurance Claim Filed in State Court Properly Dismissed

    Understand the Dispute Resolution Provision You Are Agreeing To

    Minnesota Senate Office Building Called Unconstitutional

    Construction Defect Leads to Death of Worker

    Issues of Fact Prevent Insurer's Summary Judgment Motion in Collapse Case
    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

    Bad Faith Claim For Independent Contractor's Reduced Loss Assessment Survives Motion to Dismiss

    January 28, 2014 —
    The insured's bad faith claim based upon the insurer's alleged use of an independent contractor to assess the amount of loss in order to lower the amount paid survived a motion to dismiss. Williamson v. Chubb Indem. Ins. Co., 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 178022 (E.D. Pa. Dec. 19, 2013). The insureds' home was damaged. Chubb, their insurer, retained an independent contractor, Eastern Diversified Services (EDS) to assess the amount of loss. EDS estimated the loss to be $193,270.43, and Chubb paid this amount. Chubb's standard practice was to conduct damage estimates itself using an estimating program called Symbility. EDS used a different program with a data base creating lower payments for loss. When this was brought to Chubb's attention, Chubb refused to recalculate the plaintiff's estimate. 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

    SunCal Buys Oak Knoll Development for the Second Time

    May 19, 2014 —
    According to the San Francisco Business Times, “Irvine-based SunCal has now bought the same site twice: once in 2005 for $100.5 million and again last week from the Lehman Brothers estate.” Suncal’s original plan to develop the 167-acre Oakland Hills, California project “fell apart after Lehman declared bankruptcy in 2008.” The San Francisco Business Times reported that the “former naval hospital site” has “the potential for more than 900 homes.” The former design included “960 homes, 82,000 square feet of commercial and retail space, and 50 acres of parks and open space.” Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of

    Mold Due to Construction Defects May Temporarily Close Fire Station

    October 25, 2013 —
    Fire Station 5 in Chino, California is about to undergo mold remediation. Ruben Martinez, the city’s Public Works Director, expects the station to be closed during remediation. “We’d like to get the firemen out of there so there isn’t any potential infection or worker’s compensation issues,” he said. However, Fire Department Captain Steve Harrison did not think the station needed to be closed. “We are adamant the station stays staffed while the remediation work is completed.” The mold came about due to problems the station has had with roof leaks since its opening in 1999. The current set of repairs will cost between $12,000 and $25,000, and the city is discussing matters with its insurer to determine who will pay for the repairs. It’ won’t be the original contractor, as the building is past the 10-year limit for construction defect claims. Even if a claim were possible, the contractor who built the building is bankrupt. Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of

    Incorporation, Indemnity and Statutes of Limitations, Oh My!

    January 19, 2017 —
    We all know that the contract is king in Virginia. We also know that Virginia will allow for a so called “incorporation” clause that will allow for “flow down” of certain prime contract provisions in a way that will make those provisions applicable to subcontractors. We also know that a claim for breach of contract or other contractual claim does not last forever due to certain statutes of limitation found in the Code of Virginia. What happens when all of these elements crash together in one place leading to litigation? Well, a relatively recent case from the Virginia Supreme Court gives at least a partial answer. In Hensel Phelps Construction Company v Thompson Masonry Contractor, Inc, the Virginia Supreme Court considered a claim that arose from construction at Virginia Tech by Hensel Phelps. The construction concluded in 1998 (remember that date). The Prime Contract included language concerning a one year “Guarantee of Work” as well as fairly typical Warranty of Workmanship” language. However the Prime Contract also stated that the one year guaranty term did nothing to affect any other limitations period for any other action pursuant to the Prime Contract (this is important as well because Virginia Tech was not subject to any statute of limitations due to its status as an agency of the Commonwealth of Virginia). Final payment was made to Hensel Phelps and subsequently to the subcontractors in 1999. 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

    One Colorado Court Allows Negligence Claim by General Contractor Against Subcontractor

    December 20, 2012 —
    Judge Paul King of the Douglas County District Court recently confirmed that subcontractors in residential construction owe an independent duty, separate and apart from any contractual duties, to act without negligence in the construction of a home in Colorado. See Order, dated September 7, 2010, Sunoo v. Hickory Homes, Inc. et al., Case No. 2007CV1866; see also Cosmopolitan Homes, Inc. v. Weller, 663 P.2d 1041 (Colo. 1983); A.C. Excavating v. Yacht Club II Homeowners Ass’n, Inc., 114 P.3d 862 (Colo. 2005). He also verified that the holding in the B.R.W. Inc. v. Dufficy & Sons, Inc., 99 P.3d 66 (Colo. 2004)[1] case does not prohibit general contractors, such as Hickory Homes, from enforcing a subcontractor’s independent duty to act without negligence in the construction of a home. Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of Heather Anderson, Higgins, Hopkins, McLain & Roswell, LLC.
    Ms. Anderson can be contacted at anderson@hhmrlaw.com

    Drones Used Despite Uncertain Legal Consequences

    March 12, 2015 —
    Francis Manchisi of Wilson Elser discussed how several industries—including construction—are using unmanned aircraft systems or unmanned aerial vehicles, commonly referred to as drones, and are either exploiting legal loopholes or ignoring laws altogether. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has recently released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, which is now in a 60-day “notice and comment” period that is open to the public. Once that period ends, the FAA will consider the comments before putting the rules into law. According to Manchisi, the proposed rules include:
    • Unmanned aircraft must weigh less than 55 lbs. (25 kg).
    • Unmanned aircraft must remain within visual line of sight (VLOS) of the operator or visual observer.
    • Maximum altitude is 500 feet above ground level.
    • Preflight inspection by the operator is required.
    • Operators are required to obtain an unmanned aircraft operator certificate with a sUAS rating from the FAA.
    Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of

    Connecticut Appellate Court Breaks New Ground on Policy Exhaustion

    April 26, 2021 —
    The Connecticut Appellate Court recently issued a wide-ranging opinion, Continental Casualty Co. v. Rohr, Inc.,[1] which significantly extended the current restrictive view on when a general liability policy can be considered exhausted so as to trigger overlying excess coverage. The case marks a further step away from Judge Augustus Hand’s almost-century-old ruling in Zeig v. Massachusetts Bonding & Ins. Co.,[2] which held that an underlying policy could be “exhausted” by a below-limits settlement as long as the insured was willing to “fill the gap” between the settlement amount and the limits of the policy.[3] In recent years, courts in California and elsewhere have increasingly walked back Zeig’s broad ruling – holding in Qualcomm v. Certain Underwriters,[4] for example, that an insured’s below-limits settlement with primary carriers does not exhaust the limits of primary coverage, or allow the insured to access overlying excess coverage.[5] Reprinted courtesy of Eric B. Hermanson, White and Williams and Austin D. Moody, White and Williams Mr. Hermanson may be contacted at hermansone@whiteandwilliams.com Mr. Moody may be contacted at moodya@whiteandwilliams.com Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of

    Update: Where Did That Punch List Term Come From Anyway?

    December 21, 2016 —
    I’ve often wondered just where the term “punch list” came from, and I’ve found a few sources that seem to make sense, while others not so much. Enter the Realm of Conjecture and Opinion One person claims it came from the telephone installer process of “punching down” terminals on a block. That seems a bit of a stretch though. A blog writer said it had to do with the term ‘punch’ since it means to “punch something up” as in fix it. Another blog writer thought it had something to do with a long forgotten practice. Apparently subcontractors used to each have their own hole punches that would punch a hole with a shape unique to them. They would use these punches to indicate they had corrected the deficiency that was their responsibility. Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of Duane Craig, Construction Informer
    Mr. Craig may be contacted at dtcraig@constructioninformer.com