Recent News

Eminent domain, generally speaking, is the power of the government to take private property without the private owner’s consent.  Under the U.S. Constitution, the government exercising this power must compensate the property owner for the fair market value of the property taken.  The U.S. Supreme Court has held that it is not a violation of… Read More

April 1st, 2021 Babak Shamsi presents an introduction to contractor liens. Read More

Most non-lawyers have probably heard about adverse possession- the concept that you can become the owner of someone else’s property by treating it as your own.  But the term “prescriptive easement” is not as well known.  The two concepts have different requirements and implications for the rights of the parties.  Adverse Possession concerns a claim of ownership of… Read More

The Washington Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision, recently held that a 60-year exception to the state’s wage/hour laws for dairy workers is unconstitutional.  At issue was RCW 49.46.130(2)(g)—that section of the Washington Minimum Wage Act which exempts agricultural workers from earning overtime pay. In Martinez-Cuevas, et al. v. DeRuyter, et al., Jose Martinez-Cuevas and… Read More

February 25th, 2021 Todd J. Cook discusses the Washington Timber Trespass Act. During the webinar, he will discuss: The definition of a Timber Trespass under Washington law;The distinction between a Timber Trespass Claim (RCW 64.12.030) and a Waste Claim (RCW 4.24.630);Damages theories applicable to Timber Trespass Claims;Common issues in prosecuting or defending a Timber Trespass… Read More

February 4th, 2021 William O. Kessler and Andrew M. McKenzie speak about seller disclosure statement/Form 17 issues. Read More

More than ever before in human history, negative messages are capable of viral dissemination.  Online platforms and various forms of social media spread information, good and bad, with various levels of accuracy, faster than ever before.  For both businesses and individuals, negative information can deal a devastating blow to reputation.  People and businesses who feel… Read More

Not all deeds are created equal.  For example, in the case of a quit claim deed, the grantor makes no warranty that they even own the property being conveyed.  Rather, the grantor merely transfers whatever the transferor actually owns.  But in the case of a statutory warranty deed, the grantor makes certain promises which give… Read More

In almost all instances, the sale of real property occurs pursuant to some written contract, typically a purchase and sale agreement.  The sale generally becomes complete when title to the property transfers to the buyer via a deed.  But what happens if, after consummation of the sale, one of the parties claims the contract was… Read More