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When the Contractor Lies About the Lumber: Bankruptcy Court Carves Out a $129,948.72 Non-Dischargeable Judgment
A Washington bankruptcy judge just held that a contractor's lie about buying materials makes the resulting debt non-dischargeable. The judge also refused to extend that holding to the rest of the project. The decision, In re Sleater, Adv. No. 25-0106...
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Clark County’s 20-Year Plan Update, Part 2: Rezoning, Overlays, and New Code Standards
This is the second article in a three-part series on Clark County’s 2025 comprehensive plan update. Part 1 covers urban growth area expansions and agricultural land; Part 2 covers rezoning, overlays, and code changes; and Part 3 covers impact fees, n...
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Washington EHB 2294 Prohibits New Grocery and Pharmacy Use Restrictions: What This Changes in Leasing, Acquisitions, Dispositions, and Financing
Washington has enacted Engrossed House Bill 2294 (“EHB 2294,” or the “Act”), which took effect on June 11, 2026, and adds a new chapter to Title 19 of the Revised Code of Washington.1
EHB 2294 voids most private agreements, including provisions in le...
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Clark County’s 20-Year Plan Update, Part 1: Where Growth Goes
This is the first article in a three-part series on Clark County’s 2025 comprehensive plan update. Part 1 covers urban growth area expansions and agricultural land; Part 2 covers rezoning, overlays, and code changes; and Part 3 covers impact fees, ne...
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More Time Now, More Work Later: CARB's Latest SB 253 Proposals
Since our March 2026 update, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) submitted its initial regulations implementing Senate Bills (SB) 253 and 261 to the California Office of Administrative Law (OAL), withdrew those regulations to make additional ch...
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From Bid to Breakdown: How Contractor Selection Drives Litigation Risk in Oregon
Risk begins with bid selection. A confluence of legislative change, economic pressure, and evolving liability doctrines has transformed contractor vetting from a procurement function into frontline risk mitigation. For owners and contractors, the takeaway is simple: buy-out decisions are risk decisions; the wrong contractor or subcontractor can turn a profitable project into a multi-front litigation battle involving wage claims, regulatory penalties, and third-party liability.
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