Recent News

In response to the financial impact of the COVID-19 virus, Washington State has delayed payment deadlines for the Business & Occupation (B&O) tax owed by small businesses.  Specifically, those who file monthly returns can request an extension from the Department of Revenue, while quarterly filers have an automatic extension to June 30, 2020 for their… Read More

On April 6, 2020, I posted a blog discussing Emergency EIDL Grants to small businesses, which can be found here.  This more recent post serves to provide an update. On March 27, 2020, President Trump signed into the law the CARES Act. The Act authorizes the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) to provide Emergency EIDL Grants… Read More

On April 16, 2020, Washington Governor Jay Inslee issued Proclamation 20-19.1 extending and expanding the scope of the residential eviction moratorium originally imposed in Proclamation No. 20-19 issued on March 18, 2020.  As originally imposed, the residential eviction moratorium prohibited residential landlords and local law enforcement from engaging in certain residential eviction activities until April… Read More

Like most industries in Washington State, the construction industry has suffered at the hands of the Covid-19 pandemic.  Virtually everyone in the chain from material suppliers, general contractors, subcontractors, individual construction workers, and project owners feel the toll inflicted by risks, obstacles, and uncertainties as they try to preserve and advance construction projects.  On March… Read More

Local access to government programs to assist with financial challenges, including a discussion with David C. Tingstad and Mountain Pacific Bank President & CEO, Mark Duffy. An overview of the Governor’s Stay Home Stay Healthy Order with Todd J. Cook. The current state of operations and emergency procedures in Snohomish County and King County Superior… Read More

The Small Business Administration (SBA) has made a few significant clarifications to the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, which the federal government passed as part of Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Stability Act (CARES Act).  These clarifications may affect small business owners who have applied under this program, or who plan to apply in the… Read More

On February 29, 2020, Washington State Governor Jay Inslee issued Proclamation No. 20-05, where he “proclaim[ed] that a State of Emergency exists in all counties in the state of Washington, and direct[ed] the plans and procedures of the Washington State Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan be implemented.”  Since that date, Governor Inslee has issued more than… Read More

On April 14, 2020, Washington Governor Jay Inslee issued Proclamation 20-49 titled “Garnishment and Accrual of Interest” (the “Garnishment Proclamation”).  In the Garnishment Proclamation, Governor Inslee finds that “a state of emergency continues to exist in all counties of Washington State.”  The Governor further finds that “a temporary moratorium on garnishment of wages and other income to… Read More

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, many individuals and businesses find themselves in unprecedented circumstances where they do not believe they can perform under contracts that they have entered into, such as construction contracts, leases, or purchase and sale agreements. Parties who have difficulties performing under their contracts due to the COVID-19 pandemic face… Read More