BERT HOWE
  • Nationwide: (800) 482-1822    
    industrial building building expert Seattle Washington high-rise construction building expert Seattle Washington Medical building building expert Seattle Washington multi family housing building expert Seattle Washington condominium building expert Seattle Washington parking structure building expert Seattle Washington office building building expert Seattle Washington production housing building expert Seattle Washington low-income housing building expert Seattle Washington retail construction building expert Seattle Washington townhome construction building expert Seattle Washington tract home building expert Seattle Washington casino resort building expert Seattle Washington concrete tilt-up building expert Seattle Washington structural steel construction building expert Seattle Washington landscaping construction building expert Seattle Washington housing building expert Seattle Washington mid-rise construction building expert Seattle Washington Subterranean parking building expert Seattle Washington hospital construction building expert Seattle Washington condominiums building expert Seattle Washington institutional building building expert Seattle Washington
    Seattle Washington consulting architect expert witnessSeattle Washington building envelope expert witnessSeattle Washington construction project management expert witnessSeattle Washington building expertSeattle Washington civil engineer expert witnessSeattle Washington civil engineering expert witnessSeattle Washington construction expert witness consultant
    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


    Louis "Dutch" Schotemeyer Returns to Newmeyer Dillion as Partner in Newport Beach Office

    Sold Signs Fill Builder Lots as U.S. Confidence Rises: Economy

    Kahana Feld Receives 2024 OCCDL Top Legal Organizations for DEI Award

    Teaching An Old Dog New Tricks: The Spearin Doctrine and Design-Build Projects

    A Bill for an Act Concerning Workers’ Compensation – 2014 Edition

    The Secret to an OSHA Inspection

    Environmental Suit Against Lockheed Martin Dismissed

    Trucks looking for Defects Create Social Media Frenzy

    Affordable Global Housing Will Cost $11 Trillion

    Arizona Is Smart About Water. It Should Stay That Way.

    Nevada Judge says Class Analysis Not Needed in Construction Defect Case

    Best Lawyers® Recognizes 43 White and Williams Lawyers

    L.A. Makes $4.5 Billion Bet on Olympics After Boston Backs Out

    Contractor Walks Off Job. What are the Owner’s Damages?

    Heathrow Speeds New-Runway Spending Before Construction Approval

    Construction Spending Had Strongest Increase in Four Years

    An Increase of US Metro Areas’ with Normal Housing & Economic Health

    Beyond the Disneyland Resort: Museums

    World's Longest Suspension Bridge Takes Shape in Turkey

    The Heat Is On

    Brazil World Cup Soccer Crisis Deepens With Eighth Worker Death

    Contractor’s Unwritten Contractual Claim Denied by Sovereign Immunity; Mandamus Does Not Help

    Replacement of Gym Floor Due to Sloppy Paint Job is Not Resulting Loss

    Hurricane Claim Cannot Survive Anti-Concurrent Causation Clause

    Court of Appeals Affirms Dismissal of Owner’s Claims Based on Contractual One-Year Claims Limitations Period

    The End of Eroding Limits Policies in Nevada is Just the Beginning

    Homebuilders Opposed to Potential Change to Interest on Construction Defect Expenses

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

    You Don’t Have To Be a Consumer to Assert a FDUTPA Claim

    Two-Part Series on Condominium Construction Defect Issues

    U.S. Supreme Court Limits the Powers of the Nation’s Bankruptcy Courts

    Assignment of Construction Defect Claims Not Covered

    Navigating the Construction Burrito: OCIP Policies in California’s Construction Defect Cases

    Leaning San Francisco Tower Seen Sinking From Space

    The Reptile Theory in Practice

    Fine Art Losses – “Canvas” the Subrogation Landscape

    Specification Challenge; Excusable Delay; Type I Differing Site Condition; Superior Knowledge

    New Mexico Adopts Right to Repair Act

    Million-Dollar Home Sales Thrive While Low End Stumbles

    Denial of Coverage For Bodily Injury After Policy Period Does Not Violate Public Policy

    California Supreme Court Rejects Insurers' Bid for Horizontal Exhaustion Rule in New Montrose Decision

    The Insurance Coverage Debate on Construction Defects Continues

    UK's Biggest Construction Show Bans 'Promo Girls'

    Separation of Insureds Provision in CGL Policies

    Nevada Assembly Sends Construction Defect Bill to Senate

    Customer’s Agreement to Self-Insure and Release for Water Damage Effectively Precludes Liability of Storage Container Company

    Insurer's Daubert Challenge to Insured's Expert Partially Successful

    Construction Defect Claim over LAX Runways

    Florida Chinese drywall, pollution exclusion, “your work” exclusion, and “sistership” exclusion.

    Courts Favor Arbitration in Two Recent Construction Dispute Cases
    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. Drawing 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

    Think Before you Execute that Release – the Language in the Release Matters!

    June 17, 2024 —
    If you execute a release in exchange for payment or other consideration, remember the language in the release means something. THE RELEASE LANGUAGE MATTERS! And the meaning in the release may be way more than you intended so please make sure you truly digest and consider release language before executing. This sentiment could not be truer than in the 2009 decision Bell BCI Company v. United States, 570 F.3d 1337 (Fed. Cir. 2009). In this case, a contractor entered into a modification (change order) with the government. The modification included the following language: increase the contract amount by $2,296,963 … as full and equitable adjustment for the remaining direct and indirect costs of the Floor 4 Fit-out (EWO 240–R1) and full and equitable adjustment for all delays resulting from any and all Government changes transmitted to the Contractor on or before August 31, 2000. Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of David Adelstein, Kirwin Norris, P.A.
    Mr. Adelstein may be contacted at dma@kirwinnorris.com

    Sweat the Small Stuff – Don’t Overlook These Three (3) Clauses When Negotiating Your Construction Contract

    April 08, 2024 —
    Reviewing and understanding the terms of your construction contract before signing on the dotted line (ideally with counsel involved) is an obvious best practice – whether you are owner, general contractor, design-professional or down-tier subcontractor or supplier. Typically, during this review process, parties pay closest attention to terms relating to price, scope, schedule, insurance, indemnification, and damages. And rightfully so, as these are just some of the most fundamental and important clauses of any construction contract. But during this review and understanding process, parties often overlook and fail to fully review and understand several notably important contract provisions (other than the examples above) which can have just as significant an impact on the project and even unintended consequences once construction starts. This article discusses three (3) of these often-overlooked provisions which should also be carefully reviewed to ensure the project runs smoothly and to avoid unintended consequences or even disputes (and litigation) during construction:
    1. Incorporation by reference clause;
    2. Order of precedence or higher standard clause; and
    3. Choice of law clause.
    Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of Bill Shaughnessy, Jones Walker LLP (ConsensusDocs)
    Mr. Shaughnessy may be contacted at bshaughnessy@joneswalker.com

    Fraud Claims and Breach Of Warranty Claims Against Manufacturer

    March 04, 2024 —
    A recent case touches upon two issues that are noteworthy when considering fraud claims and breach of warranty claims against a manufacturer. Below contains a discussion on these claims. Independent Tort Doctrine “Florida’s independent tort doctrine provides that a party may not recover in tort for a contract dispute unless the tort is independent of any breach of contract.” MidAmerica C2L Inc. v. Siemens Energy, Inc., 2024 WL 414620, *6 (M.D.Fla. 2024). This means tort allegations and claims MUST be separate and distinct from performance under the contract. Id. (citation omitted). In MidAmerica C2L, a plaintiff sued a manufacturer relating to sophisticated equipment for a coal gasification plant. The parties entered into different agreements for the equipment and a license where the plaintiff could use the manufacturer’s patented technology for its coal gasification plants. A dispute arose and the plaintiff sued the manufacturer under various legal theories. The manufacturer moved for summary judgment. Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of David Adelstein, Kirwin Norris, P.A.
    Mr. Adelstein may be contacted at dma@kirwinnorris.com

    Home Prices in 20 U.S. Cities Kept Climbing in January

    April 06, 2016 —
    Home values in 20 U.S. cities kept climbing in January, a sign the limited supply of available properties may push prices out of reach for some buyers. The S&P/Case-Shiller index of property values increased 5.7 percent from January 2015, following a 5.6 percent gain in the year ended in December, the group said Tuesday in New York. That matched the median projection of 26 economists surveyed by Bloomberg. Nationally, prices rose 5.4 percent year-over-year. Home values that are rising more quickly than incomes could pose a problem for the housing recovery, as they put purchases out of reach for first-time and low-income buyers. A wider selection of available homes will be needed to help keep price increases in an accessible range. Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of Victoria Stilwell, Bloomberg

    D.R. Horton Earnings Rise as Sales and Order Volume Increase

    May 07, 2015 —
    D.R. Horton Inc., the largest U.S. homebuilder by revenue, said fiscal second-quarter earnings rose as sales increased in a sign of growing demand for new homes. Net income climbed to $147.9 million, or 40 cents a share, for the three months ended March 31 from $131 million, or 38 cents, a year earlier, the Fort Worth, Texas-based company said Wednesday in a statement. The average of 15 analyst estimates was 38 cents a share, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. “The spring selling season at D.R. Horton is off to a strong start,” Chairman Donald R. Horton said in the statement. “Our increasingly diverse product offerings are enabling us to expand our industry-leading market share.” Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of John Gittelsohn, Bloomberg
    Mr. Gittelsohn may be contacted at johngitt@bloomberg.net

    Best Lawyers Recognizes Hundreds of Lewis Brisbois Attorneys, Honors Four Partners as ‘Lawyers of the Year’

    September 19, 2022 —
    (August 18, 2022) - Best Lawyers has selected 149 Lewis Brisbois attorneys across 46 offices for inclusion in its list of 2023 Best Lawyers in America. It has also recognized four Lewis Brisbois partners on its "Lawyers of the Year" list: Chairman & Founding Partner Robert F. Lewis (Insurance Law); Portland Managing Partner Eric J. Neiman (Litigation - Health Care); Akron Managing Partner David Kern (Tax Law); and Roanoke Partner Paul C. Kuhnel (Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants). Please join us in congratulating these four partners and the following attorneys on their Best Lawyers recognition.
    • Nashville Partner Tara Aaron-Stelluto: Copyright Law
    • Pittsburgh Partner Andrew F. Adomitis: Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
    • Fort Lauderdale Partner Vincent F. Alexander: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
    • Miami Partner Seth Alhadeff: Litigation - Insurance
    • Seattle Partner Randy J. Aliment: Commercial Litigation
    • Phoenix Partner Dina Anagnopoulos: Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants
    • Madison County Partner Charles S. Anderson: Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
    • Reno Managing Partner Jack G. Angaran: Insurance Law, Litigation – Construction, Litigation - Real Estate
    Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of Lewis Brisbois

    Architects and Engineers Added to Harmon Towers Lawsuit

    February 12, 2013 —
    Since the beginning of the Harmon Towers construction defect lawsuit, it has been CityCenter making claims against Perini, the property owner against the builder. CityCenter now has a new legal team, and with it apparently a new strategy. The Las Vegas Review Journal reports that papers were filed in court on February 8, adding the architect and the engineer as defendants in the case. According to the filings, the engineering firm Halcrow Yolles should have noticed during inspections that parts of the building’s steel skeleton were improperly installed and should have been repaired. Instead these structures were encased in concrete. CityCenter also contends that there were deficiencies in Halcrow’s blueprints. AAI Architects has been named because its contract made it responsible for Halcrow’s work. Perini has contended that some problems at the building were due to bad plans and therefore not their responsibility. They have claimed that they can fix the building for $20 million, of which $4 million would be due to their actions. Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of

    Wilke Fleury Celebrates the Addition of Two New Partners

    February 18, 2019 —
    Wilke Fleury celebrates the addition of two new partners – Shannon Smith-Crowley and Daniel J. Foster – who complement the firm’s shifting generations of leadership. Shannon and Danny bring unique perspective and excellent capability to Wilke Fleury’s partnership effective January 1, 2019. Shannon has been a registered lobbyist in California for 20 years. After a career in managed care, she started lobbying with the California Medical Association before founding her own firm, Partners In Advocacy to specialize in medical and reproductive health advocacy. At Wilke Fleury, her areas of practice include health care, women’s equity, life sciences, the biomedical industry, new family formation and emerging technologies in green energy. After a four year tenure with the firm, she has been elevated to the partnership. Click here to read more about Shannon Smith-Crowley. Daniel Foster’s litigation practice is composed of matters involving complex construction defect litigation, mechanics liens claims, stop notice actions and Miller Act claims. He represents clients before the Contractors State License Board and handles matters involving breach of warranty, the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, indemnity agreements and liability insurance coverage. Click here to read more about Daniel J. Foster Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of Wilke Fleury