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Does Homeownership Still Beat Renting?
Zillow, a real estate listing and analytics company, recently looked at the "break-even" time horizon for owning a house versus renting in a number of markets across the nation. "Breaking even" means the amount of time it will take for the cost of ow...
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A Washington Court of Appeals Reaffirms State's Strong Vested Rights Doctrine
The Washington Department of Ecology issued the 2013-2018 Phase I Municipal Stormwater Permit, which required certain counties and cities to adopt local regulations for controlling stormwater sewer systems for new development, redevelopment, and cons...
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Supreme Court Puts Clean Power Plan on Hold
Recently the Supreme Court, for the first time, halted the implementation of an EPA rule before review by the Court of Appeals. As reported on this blog, in August the EPA adopted rules under the Clean Air Act to ensure that by 2030, carbon dioxide e...
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Leasing Restrictions in Condominiums Are Still "Use" Restrictions
We wrote about the Filmore v. Unit Owners Association of Centre Pointe Condominium case in a prior blog post, when the Washington Court of Appeals issued its decision in the case. The court of appeals ruled that, based on the language of the Washingt...
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Heading Into Muddied Waters
August 28, 2015, was the effective date of a new regulation that many argue expands permitting requirements for project development and other activities near or in waterbodies. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") and Army Corps of Engine...
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If Your Company Uses Subcontracted Labor, the NLRB May Find You to Be a "Joint Employer"
A new decision by the National Labor Relations Board defining joint employers for the purposes of collective bargaining is a good reminder to employers and contractors to make certain that policies and contracts precisely define who and who is not an...
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