BERT HOWE
  • Nationwide: (800) 482-1822    
    custom home Building Consultant Seattle Washington condominium Building Consultant Seattle Washington casino resort Building Consultant Seattle Washington hospital construction Building Consultant Seattle Washington high-rise construction Building Consultant Seattle Washington office building Building Consultant Seattle Washington multi family housing Building Consultant Seattle Washington mid-rise construction Building Consultant Seattle Washington housing Building Consultant Seattle Washington landscaping construction Building Consultant Seattle Washington custom homes Building Consultant Seattle Washington retail construction Building Consultant Seattle Washington institutional building Building Consultant Seattle Washington Medical building Building Consultant Seattle Washington condominiums Building Consultant Seattle Washington structural steel construction Building Consultant Seattle Washington low-income housing Building Consultant Seattle Washington tract home Building Consultant Seattle Washington Subterranean parking Building Consultant Seattle Washington industrial building Building Consultant Seattle Washington production housing Building Consultant Seattle Washington concrete tilt-up Building Consultant Seattle Washington
    Seattle Washington architectural expert witnessSeattle Washington engineering expert witnessSeattle Washington architectural engineering expert witnessSeattle Washington construction project management expert witnessSeattle Washington contractor expert witnessSeattle Washington expert witness concrete failureSeattle Washington engineering consultant
    Arrange No Cost Consultation
    Building Consultant 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 Consultant Contractors Licensing
    Guidelines Seattle Washington

    A license is required for plumbing, and electrical trades. Businesses must register with the Secretary of State.


    Building Consultant Contractors Building Industry
    Association Directory
    MBuilders Association of King & Snohomish Counties
    Local # 4955
    335 116th Ave SE
    Bellevue, WA 98004

    Seattle Washington Building Consultant 10/ 10

    Home Builders Association of Kitsap County
    Local # 4944
    5251 Auto Ctr Way
    Bremerton, WA 98312

    Seattle Washington Building Consultant 10/ 10

    Home Builders Association of Spokane
    Local # 4966
    5813 E 4th Ave Ste 201
    Spokane, WA 99212

    Seattle Washington Building Consultant 10/ 10

    Home Builders Association of North Central
    Local # 4957
    PO Box 2065
    Wenatchee, WA 98801

    Seattle Washington Building Consultant 10/ 10

    MBuilders Association of Pierce County
    Local # 4977
    PO Box 1913 Suite 301
    Tacoma, WA 98401

    Seattle Washington Building Consultant 10/ 10

    North Peninsula Builders Association
    Local # 4927
    PO Box 748
    Port Angeles, WA 98362
    Seattle Washington Building Consultant 10/ 10

    Jefferson County Home Builders Association
    Local # 4947
    PO Box 1399
    Port Hadlock, WA 98339

    Seattle Washington Building Consultant 10/ 10


    Building Consultant News and Information
    For Seattle Washington


    New Megablimp to Deliver to Remote Alaskan Construction Sites

    An Oregon School District Files Suit Against Robinson Construction Co.

    The Treasures Inside Notre Dame Cathedral

    New York Considers Amendments to Construction Industry Wage Laws that Would Impose Significant Burden Upon Contractors

    Manhattan Home Prices Jump to a Record as Buyers Compete

    A Relatively Small Exception to Fraud and Contract Don’t Mix

    Blackstone Said in $1.7 Billion Deal to Buy Apartments

    A Compilation of Quirky Insurance Claims

    Hail Damage Requires Replacement of Even Undamaged Siding

    Gardeners in the City of the Future: An Interview with Eric Baczuk

    U.S. Housing Starts Exceed Estimates After a Stronger December

    Accident/Occurrence Requirement Does not Preclude Coverage for Vicarious Liability or Negligent Supervision

    The Year 2010 In Review: Design And Construction Defects Litigation

    Construction Litigation Roundup: “Tender Is the Fight”

    Newmeyer Dillion Attorneys Named to 2022 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists

    David M. McLain to Speak at the CLM Claims College - School of Construction - Scholarships Available

    Chinese Telecommunications Ban to Expand to Federally Funded Contracts Effective November 12, 2020

    Lis Pendens – Recordation and Dissolution

    The California Legislature Passes SB 496 Limiting Design Professional Defense and Indemnity Obligations

    Construction Defects Lead to Demolition of Seattle’s 25-story McGuire Apartments Building

    Maine Court Allows $1B Hydropower Transmission Project to Proceed

    Manhattan Condo Lists for Record $150 Million

    Wilke Fleury Attorney Featured in 2022 Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers: Ones To Watch!

    Counsel Investigating Coverage Can be Sued for Invasion of Privacy

    New Executive Order: Revitalizing Our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All

    Wilke Fleury Attorneys Highlighted | 2019 Northern California Super Lawyers

    Supreme Court Holds That Prevailing Wage Statute is Constitutional

    Steven Cvitanovic to Present at NASBP Virtual Seminar

    A Reminder to Get Your Contractor’s License in Virginia

    Illinois Favors Finding Construction Defects as an Occurrence

    Berlin Lawmakers Get a New Green Workspace

    Quick Note: Be Careful with Pay if Paid Clauses (Both Subcontractors and General Contractors)

    California Fire Lawyers File Suit Against PG&E on Behalf of More Than 50 Wildfire Victims

    No Conflict in Successive Representation of a Closely-Held Company and Its Insiders Where Insiders Already Possess Company’s Confidential Information

    Vancouver’s George Massey Tunnel Replacement May Now be a Tunnel Instead of a Bridge

    Eleventh Circuit Finds No “Property Damage” Where Defective Component Failed to Cause Damage to Other Non-Defective Components

    Pinnacle Controls in Verano

    Slowing Home Sales Show U.S. Market Lacks Momentum: Economy

    FIFA Inspecting Brazil’s World Cup Stadiums

    Elon Musk’s Proposed Vegas Strip Transit System Advanced by City Council Vote

    Multisensory Marvel: Exploring the Innovative MSG Sphere

    Over a Hundred Thousand Superstorm Sandy Cases Re-Opened

    Engineer Proposes Slashing Scope of Millennium Tower Pile Upgrade

    Solicitor General’s Views to Supreme Court on Two Circuit Court Rulings that Groundwater Can be Considered “Waters of the United States”

    Hunton Insurance Lawyer, Adriana Perez, Selected to the National Association of Women Lawyers’ 2023 Rising List

    Environmental Suit Against Lockheed Martin Dismissed

    Five Pointers for Enforcing a Non-Compete Agreement in Texas

    Am I Still Covered Under the Title Insurance Policy?

    Fix for Settling Millennium Tower May Start This Fall

    Rachel Reynolds Selected as Prime Member of ADTA
    Corporate Profile

    SEATTLE WASHINGTON BUILDING CONSULTANT
    DIRECTORY AND CAPABILITIES

    Leveraging from more than 7,000 construction defect and claims related expert witness designations, the Seattle, Washington Building Consultant 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 Consultant News & Info
    Seattle, Washington

    Construction Termination Issues for the Architect and Engineer: Part 1– Introduction to the Series

    July 24, 2023 —
    Earlier this year, I was asked to talk to other construction lawyers on the topic of termination. My first question was– whose termination are we talking about here– the architect / engineer? The contractor? Is someone wanting to “fire” the owner? The answer, as it turns out, is — yes. That is, yes, any and all of the above termination topics were on the table. As you may have suspected, even the threat of a termination is bad, bad news. It is the “nuclear option” for a construction project. Everyone risks getting harmed. As the design professional administering a contract, you run a risk of being dragged into litigation no matter what you do. So, how should you proceed? Carefully. Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of Melissa Dewey Brumback, Ragsdale Liggett
    Ms. Brumback may be contacted at mbrumback@rl-law.com

    Understanding the Real Estate and Tax Implications of Florida's Buyer Ban Law

    July 16, 2023 —
    Last month, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) of Florida signed a new law that would prohibit people who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents and whose "domicile" is in China from purchasing certain real property in the state. Generally, the prohibition applies to agricultural land and other land within ten miles of restricted areas, including military bases and infrastructure like airports and wastewater treatment plants. The law, which takes effect on July 1, 2023, would also impose criminal penalties on any person or real estate company that knowingly sells real estate in the Sunshine State to anyone impacted by the ban. Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of Kelly Erb, White and Williams LLP
    Ms. Erb may be contacted at erbk@whiteandwilliams.com

    The EEOC Targets Construction Industry For Heightened Enforcement

    May 15, 2023 —
    Seyfarth Synopsis: On January 10, 2023, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released for public comment its draft 2023-2027 Strategic Enforcement Plan (“SEP”)—a document that will guide the Commission’s enforcement priorities for the next five years. The EEOC’s prior Strategic Plan described how it would pursue its enforcement goals. (See our earlier blog on the Strategic Plan here). The Strategic Enforcement Plan, on the other hand, describes what the EEOC’s enforcement priorities will be. Earlier actions by the EEOC suggested that it might be turning its attention to the construction industry. In the SEP, the EEOC makes its intentions explicit, putting the construction industry—and especially those receiving federal funding—squarely in its sights. History of the SEP The EEOC’s first SEP covered Fiscal Years 2013-2016 (the EEOC’s fiscal years begin on October 1) and identified six broad subject-matter priorities. The EEOC’s second SEP set the course for enforcement priorities for FY2017-2022. The latest proposed SEP, published in the Federal Register for comment for the first time, provides notable additional details that put the employer community on notice of the Commission’s intentions for FY2023-2027.[1] Reprinted courtesy of Meghan Douris, Seyfarth and Andrew Scroggins, Seyfarth Ms. Douris may be contacted at mdouris@seyfarth.com Mr. Scroggins may be contacted ascroggins@seyfarth.com Read the full story...

    Adaptive Reuse: Creative Reimagining of Former Office Space to Address Differing Demands

    March 27, 2023 —
    Empty office buildings downtown. A housing shortage in almost every major market. Is there a way to address both issues at once by converting historic but underutilized office buildings into apartments and condos in city centers? It’s an idea that has been discussed, and in some cities, implemented in recent years. But while the idea seems simple enough—repurpose existing office space for residential and mixed-use projects—there are some real challenges limiting the feasibility of large-scale office to residential conversion. The commercial real estate market is facing an uncertain future. Even as some companies have started requiring that their workers return to the office, many continue to operate under their hybrid or fully remote working models, which companies may commit to permanently. And while some big cities have seen office occupancy levels increase in the past few months (CBRE notes that Austin and Houston both saw occupancy levels above 60% in January, up around 25% from 2022 levels), the ongoing impact of COVID-19 and uncertainty in the global financial markets are keeping many office buildings empty in major cities around the country. Those tenants who are returning to the office are focusing their search for office space on high-quality, sustainable, amenity-filled spaces to entice workers to return to the office. This flight to quality leaves some older and, in many cases, architecturally relevant, office buildings behind. As a result, there are growing opportunities for the potential adaptive reuse of these existing underutilized structures. Reprinted courtesy of Cait Horner, Pillsbury, Allan C. Van Vliet, Pillsbury and Adam J. Weaver, Pillsbury Ms. Horner may be contacted at cait.horner@pillsburylaw.com Mr. Van Vliet may be contacted at allan.vanvliet@pillsburylaw.com Mr. Weaver may be contacted at adam.weaver@pillsburylaw.com Read the full story...

    CGL Coverage Dispute Regarding the (J)(6) And (J)(7) Property Damage Exclusions

    April 18, 2023 —
    A new insurance coverage opinion dealing with a commercial general liability’s (CGL) duty to defend involved exclusions commonly known as the (j)(6) and (j)(7) property damage exclusions (and in certain policies known as the (j)(5) and (j)(6) exclusions). These are the exclusions that apply during ongoing operations. Exclusion (l), or the “your work” exclusion, applies post-completion, i.e., it is an exclusion for “property damage” to “your work” included in the “products-completed operations hazard.” Exclusions (j)(6) and (j)(7) in the policy at-issue exclude coverage for property damage to:
    (j)(6) That particular part of real property on which any insured or any contractors or subcontractors working directly or indirectly on your behalf are performing operations, if the “property damage” arises out of those operations; (j)(7) That particular part of any property that must be restored, repaired or replaced because “your work” was incorrectly performed on it.
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of David Adelstein, Kirwin Norris, P.A.
    Mr. Adelstein may be contacted at dma@kirwinnorris.com

    Warranty of Workmanship and Habitability Cannot Be Disclaimed or Waived Under Any Circumstance

    May 01, 2023 —
    Arizona residential construction and single-family home production is growing at a rapid pace. And just as fast as the homes are sold, homeowners are constantly seeking warranty repairs from their homebuilders. Despite having strong purchase documents with express warranty language, the Arizona Supreme Court in Zambrano v. M & RC, II LLC, 254 Ariz. 53 (2022) adopted a bright line rule that regardless of the contract, the implied warranty of workmanship and habitability (“implied warranty”) cannot be disclaimed or waived under any circumstance. The Arizona Supreme Court opinion provides clear guidance of the law in this area on the scope of the implied warranty in contracts between homebuyers and builder/vendors, specifically on the issue of whether an express warranty can negate and effectively waive the common law implied warranty – which is a definitive violation of public policy. The Zambrano decision involved a licensed real estate broker who bought a new single family home for herself in a newly constructed master planned community in Surprise, AZ. Zambrano entered into a valid sales contract with Scott Homes (homebuilder) which contained a stand-alone 45-page pre-printed form express warranty. The express warranty was to be the “only warranty applicable to the home.” The contract further clarified that the buyer was expressly disclaiming (and, thus, waiving) the implied warranty. The sales documents and express warranty were signed and authorized by Zambrano. A short time later, the home developed alleged “design and construction defects” that were “either time barred or outside the coverage” of the express warranty. Zambrano filed suit for the alleged defects based on the implied warranty. Scott Homes filed summary judgment based on the Zambrano’s waiver and disclaimer of the implied warranty in the purchase agreement. The trial court granted summary judgment and the matter was appealed up to the Arizona Supreme Court. Reprinted courtesy of Jason Feld, Kahana & Feld LLP and Stephanie Wilson, Kahana & Feld LLP Mr. Feld may be contacted at jfeld@kahanafeld.com Ms. Wilson may be contacted at swilson@kahanafeld.com Read the full story...

    Bridges Need More Attention

    July 31, 2023 —
    Since it became possible to calculate the specific design-build needs of bridges with increasing accuracy in the 19th century, and new materials—beginning with cast iron and steel, followed by reinforced and prestressed concretes—also became available to build them, the number of bridges constructed all over the world has increased. It is evident today that many of these bridges have aged considerably, conditions which often lead to collapse despite regular inspections and repairs. The Fern Hollow Bridge in Pittsburgh, an approximately 440-foot-long, three-span steel bridge over a forest ravine, collapsed in January 2022. Fortunately, no fatalities occurred, although several vehicles, including a bus, were involved in the collapse. How can accidents of this nature be avoided, and which technologies are available to protect bridges more effectively? Bridges all over the world can be efficiently monitored with weigh in motion (WIM) and structural health monitoring (SHM), extending their service life and, in a worst-case scenario, preventing their collapse. Reprinted courtesy of Christoph Klauser, Construction Executive, a publication of Associated Builders and Contractors. All rights reserved. Read the full story...

    Nondelegable Duty of Care Owed to Third Persons

    May 29, 2023 —
    Although a personal injury case, the recent opinion in Garcia v. Southern Cleaning Service, Inc., 48 Fla.L.Weekly D977a (Fla. 1stDCA 2023) raises an interesting issue regarding nondelegable duties owed to third persons applicable in negligence actions. Remember, in order for there to be a negligence claim, the defendant MUST owe a duty of care to the plaintiff. No duty, no negligence claim. What if a defendant’s duty was delegated to, say, an independent contractor?
    [A] party that hires an independent contractor may be liable for the contractor’s negligence where a nondelegable duty is involved. Such a duty may be imposed by statute, contract, or the common law. In determining whether a duty is nondelegable, the question is whether the responsibility at issue is so important to the community that an employer should not be allowed to transfer it to a third party. Garcia, supra, (internal citations omitted).
    Read the full story...
    Reprinted courtesy of David Adelstein, Kirwin Norris, P.A.
    Mr. Adelstein may be contacted at dma@kirwinnorris.com