BERT HOWE
  • Nationwide: (800) 482-1822    
    Subterranean parking building expert Seattle Washington production housing building expert Seattle Washington housing building expert Seattle Washington condominiums building expert Seattle Washington concrete tilt-up building expert Seattle Washington hospital construction building expert Seattle Washington multi family housing building expert Seattle Washington townhome construction building expert Seattle Washington low-income housing building expert Seattle Washington Medical building building expert Seattle Washington mid-rise construction building expert Seattle Washington casino resort building expert Seattle Washington institutional building building expert Seattle Washington structural steel construction building expert Seattle Washington tract home building expert Seattle Washington custom home building expert Seattle Washington parking structure building expert Seattle Washington landscaping construction building expert Seattle Washington industrial building building expert Seattle Washington condominium building expert Seattle Washington office building building expert Seattle Washington high-rise construction building expert Seattle Washington
    Seattle Washington window expert witnessSeattle Washington structural concrete expertSeattle Washington hospital construction expert witnessSeattle Washington construction cost estimating expert witnessSeattle Washington construction claims expert witnessSeattle Washington construction claims expert witnessSeattle Washington testifying construction 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


    Architect Sues over Bidding Procedure

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

    Contractor Sentenced to 7 Years for “Hail Damage” Fraud

    9th Circuit Plumbs Through the Federal and State False Claims Acts

    Irene May Benefit Construction Industry

    The Godfather of Solar Predicts Its Future

    Miller Act Claim for Unsigned Change Orders

    Los Angeles Delays ‘Mansion Tax’ Spending Amid Legal Fight

    Apartment Building Damaged by Cable Installer’s Cherry Picker

    Traub Lieberman Attorneys Recognized as 2023 New York – Metro Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars

    Corps Spells Out Billions in Infrastructure Act Allocations

    Altman Contractors, Inc. v. Crum & Forster Specialty Ins. Co.

    Three Construction Workers Injured at Former GM Plant

    Can an Owner Preemptively Avoid a Mechanics Lien?

    Narrow Promissory Estoppel Exception to Create Insurance Coverage

    “Slow and Steady Doesn’t Always Win the Race” – Applicability of a Statute of Repose on Indemnity/Contribution Claims in New Hampshire

    Don’t Fall in Trap of Buying the Cheapest Insurance Policy as it May be Bad for Your Business Risks and Needs

    Insurers in New Jersey Secure a Victory on Water Damage Claims, But How Big a Victory Likely Remains to be Seen

    Home Sales and Stock Price Up for D. R. Horton

    Pre-Suit Settlement Offers and Construction Lien Actions

    Homeowner Loses Suit against Architect and Contractor of Resold Home

    Potential Problems with Cases Involving One Owner and Multiple Contractors

    Practical Pointers for Change Orders on Commercial Construction Contracts

    Subsequent Owners of Homes Again Have Right to Sue Builders for Construction Defects

    Court Grants Partial Summary Judgment on Conversion Claim Against Insurer

    Sun, Sand and Stir-Fry? Miami Woos Chinese for Property: Cities

    OSHA Issues Fines for Fatal Building Collapse in Philadelphia

    Renovate or Demolish Milwaukee’s Historic City Hall?

    Are You Ready For 2015?

    Turning Back the Clock: DOL Proposes Previous Davis-Bacon Prevailing Wage Definition

    Illinois Federal Court Determines if Damages Are Too Remote

    The Ghosts of Baha Mar: How a $3.5 Billion Paradise Went Bust

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

    Building on New Risks: Construction in the Age of Greening

    Appeals Court Rules that CGL Policy Doesn’t Cover Subcontractors’ Faulty Work

    Common Law Indemnification - A Primer

    The California Privacy Rights Act Passed – Now What?

    Contractor Sues Construction Defect Claimants for Defamation

    Infrared Photography Illuminates Construction Defects and Patent Trolling

    Faulty Workmanship Causing Damage to Other Property Covered as Construction Defect

    Trump Sues Casinos to Get Conditions Fixed or Name Off

    Houston Bond Issue Jump-Starts 237 Flood Control Projects

    School for Building Trades Helps Fill Need for Skilled Workers

    Farewell Capsule Tower, Tokyo’s Oddest Building

    Exclusion Does Not Bar Coverage for Injury To Subcontractor's Employee

    Chinese Millionaire Roils Brokers Over Shrinking Mansion

    Avoiding Project Planning Disasters: How to Spot Problem Projects

    AB5 Construction Exemption – A Checklist to Avoid Application of AB5’s Three-Part Test

    Supreme Court of Washington State Upholds SFAA Position on Spearin Doctrine

    Insurance Company Must Show that Lead Came from Building Materials
    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

    Texas Supreme Court to Rehear Menchaca Bad Faith Case

    January 10, 2018 —
    On December 15th, the Texas Supreme Court agreed to revisit its April 7, 2017 decision in USAA Texas Lloyds Co. v. Menchaca, No. 14-0721, a “bad faith” case arising out of Hurricane Ike damage, in which the court held that a policyholder could potentially recover policy benefits for statutory bad faith under Texas law, even though a jury concluded that the insurer did not breach the terms of the policy, if the policyholder could show that she was nevertheless entitled to the benefit. The decision to rehear this matter comes at the urging of insurers and interested groups, including the Insurance Council of Texas and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, who argued that the April 7, 2017 ruling substantially unsettled Texas insurance law. Menchaca is a first-party property insurance coverage case. After Hurricane Ike struck in 2008, plaintiff Menchaca submitted a claim under her homeowners policy to USAA. A USAA adjuster later concluded that Menchaca’s property suffered only “minimal damage” that fell below the deductible. Menchaca sued claiming breach of contract and unfair claims settlement practices in violation of the Texas Insurance Code. As damages, she sought only the policy benefit, court costs, and attorneys’ fees. Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of Sean P. Mahoney, White and Williams LLP
    Mr. Mahoney may be contacted at mahoneys@whiteandwilliams.com

    Fifth Circuit Finds Duty to Defend Construction Defect Case

    March 14, 2022 —
    Reversing the judgment of the district court, the Fifth Circuit found the insurer owed a defense in a construction defect case. Siplast, Inc. v. Emplrs Mut. Cas. Co., 2022 U.S. App. LEXIS 795 (5th Cir. Jan. 11, 2022). The Archdiocese of New York sued various parties for a roofing project at a high school in the Bronx. Siplast, the roofing manufacturer, was included as a defendant. The underlying lawsuit arose from the Archdiocese purchase of a roof membrane system from Siplast. Siplast guaranteed that the roof membrane system would remain "in a watertight condition for a period of 20 years . . . or Siplast will repair the Roof Membrane System at its own expense." After installation of the roof, school officials noticed water damage in the ceiling tiles throughout the school after a rain storm. Siplast attempted to repair the damage, but was unsuccessful. Siplast later informed the Archdiocese that the guarantee would not be honored regarding any permanent improvements of the roof. The Archdiocese filed suit against Siplast and the installing contractor. The cause of action against Siplast was for breach of the guarantee. 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

    Deescalating Hyper Escalation

    July 05, 2023 —
    Recent years have seen the construction industry get hit by a perfect storm of rising costs, workforce shortages, delivery delays, supply-chain issues, inflation, interest-rate hikes and materials price escalation. The cost of construction has become more expensive, leaving all parties to grapple with the sufficiency of their risk-management strategies and the ramifications of contracts that are ill-equipped to deal with unprecedented cost increases. Of particular concern to industry participants are the volatile price fluctuations that construction materials have undergone and how to appropriately mitigate the risks they present. Although owners, general contractors and subcontractors may seek to mitigate future risks, many who are party to an existing contract all too often must scramble to divine how to absorb significantly more financial risk than they expected pre-pandemic. Contracts that were bid and entered into prior to the pandemic may have seen, in some instances, double- and triple-digit percent increases in prices due to hyper escalation, with little recourse to address such situations. While parties to private contracts are free to mitigate their risk through contract negotiations, parties to federal or state public procurements are somewhat more constrained. Reprinted courtesy of Paul F. Williamson, Construction Executive, a publication of Associated Builders and Contractors. All rights reserved. Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of

    Mich. AG Says Straits of Mackinac Tunnel Deal Unconstitutional

    June 03, 2019 —
    Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel (D) has declared unconstitutional a late-2018 law that would create an authority to oversee construction of a key tunnel. The tunnel would house an oil-and-gas pipeline under the Straits of Mackinac. Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of Jeff Yoders, ENR
    Mr. Yoders may be contacted at yodersj@enr.com

    Tender the Defense of a Lawsuit to your Liability Carrier

    January 19, 2017 —
    Sometimes you come across a head scratcher. This would be a decision that does not seem to make a whole lot of sense. For instance, if you are sued and you maintain liability insurance that would potentially provide you a defense and indemnification, not notifying your insurance carrier is a head scratcher. You pay substantial dollars towards the premium of that policy. So, not then notifying your carrier about a lawsuit is a head scratcher, and I mean a head scratcher!! If you are sued, not only should the carrier be notified, but the defense of that lawsuit should be tendered to your liability carrier. Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of David Adelstein, Florida Construction Legal Updates
    Mr. Adelstein may be contacted at dadelstein@gmail.com

    How to Make the Construction Dispute Resolution Process More Efficient and Less Expensive

    July 09, 2014 —
    John P. Ahlers on the Ahlers & Cressman PLLC blog has posted the first of a two-part series on Ways to Make the Construction Dispute Resolution Process More Efficient and Less Expensive: “In our view, construction is well suited to streamlining the resolution process, particularly when experienced lawyers and judges / arbitrators are involved.” “Discovery can take vast amounts of time and cost a company significant resources,” Ahlers wrote. “Many times, only small portions of a deposition might actually be used at the hearing in cross examination. The question then becomes whether the cost of the discovery is providing a return.” Ahlers listed several steps and requirements that arbitrators, judges, or the parties themselves can impose to make the process more efficient, such as client involvement, avoiding too much process at the expense of practical outcomes, discovery limitations, among others. Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of

    Red Wings Owner, Needing Hockey-Arena Neighborhood, Builds One

    August 06, 2014 —
    Billionaire Mike Ilitch and his family plan to create an instantaneous neighborhood around Detroit’s new hockey arena and jump-start an economic recovery where other sports ventures fell short. The 250-acre (101-hectare) project near downtown sets the arena apart from other U.S. stadiums where little or no related development occurred, or arose long after construction. The Ilitches, owners of the National Hockey League’s Detroit Red Wings, will spend $200 million on apartments and retail space to attract residents by the time the arena opens for the 2017 season. They’ll also pay 44 percent of cost to build the arena. “This isn’t, ‘Build it and they will come.’ This is, ‘We’re coming and we’re building it,” said Mark Morante, a manager for the Michigan Strategic Fund, which must authorize a $450 million bond sale to build the arena, the largest by the state’s economic development arm. Read the court decision
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of Chris Christoff, Bloomberg
    Mr. Christoff may be contacted at cchristoff@bloomberg.net

    State Audit Questions College Construction Spending in LA

    August 17, 2011 —

    A state audit of the Los Angeles Community College District found many problems with their construction spending. Their report, as described in the Los Angeles Times, found construction money spent for other purposes, such as promotional photography and public relation tours, $28.3 million spent on projects that were later cancelled, and oversight committees that provided no oversight.

    Earlier this year, the LA Times ran a series of articles detailing problems with the Los Angles Community College District’s construction program. The LA Times reported that the State Controller’s audit reached many of the same conclusions.

    The Community College District disputed the findings.

    Read the full story…

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