The Alliance of American Insurers is urging Washington Gov. Gary Locke (D) to sign SB 6409, which the organization believes will help reduce the rising costs of litigation faced by the state’s construction industry.
“We see this bill as a positive step in dealing with the rising costs of litigation for construction defects,” wrote Rita Nowak, Alliance assistant vice president of property/casualty, in a letter to Gov. Locke. “The goal of the legislation is to bring insurers back into the contractor liability marketplace by eliminating frivolous construction defect litigation. It also would benefit homeowners by providing a tool to resolve construction defect suits in an expedient manner.”
The bill, which was passed unanimously by both the House and Senate, would help resolve disputes and fix defects more expediently by requiring homeowners to give contractors 45-day notice of a construction problem and their intent to file suit.
It also gives the construction professional the opportunity to offer a “cure” for the construction problem prior to filing of the lawsuit. In addition, the bill sets up an alternative dispute resolution procedure, which also would help control the cost of lawsuits.
Topics Lawsuits Washington Construction
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
Chubb Outlines Structure of $20B Gulf Reinsurance Facility, Now Including Liability Cover 
Orlando Apartment Complex Evacuated After Cracks Found on All Five Floors 
After 62 Years, Florida Appeals Court Drops the Expert Witness Rule on Attorney Fees 
Trump’s Demand for Admissions Data Sends Wary Colleges Scrambling 
