Please see our recent articles below. To filter by category, make your desired selection within the drop down menu.
February 13, 2023
A Quiet Title Action is a legal proceeding to clarify ownership of real property. When we talk about “title” to property, we are usually referring to a person’s right to ownership of that property or the documents establishing that right.
January 9, 2023
Understanding the cause of your defective hardwood floor installation and pursuing your legal claims against your contractor or subcontractor who installed the hardwood floor.
October 7, 2022
You hired a contractor for a remodel or repair project at your home. It started with high hopes, but now, the project is over budget, late, and you are questioning the workmanship. You’ve simply had enough and want to terminate the contractor. Can you? Yes. Should you? Maybe, but it is critically important to know…
July 26, 2022
Dave von Beck, Katie J. Comstock, Seth E. Chastain, Ryan Sobotka, and Christian Lawler Named Seattle’s Super Lawyers Congratulations to shareholder Dave von Beck who has been selected as a 2022 Washington Super Lawyer and Top Rated Construction Litigation Attorney in Seattle, WA by Super Lawyers®. The Super Lawyer list is the product of…
June 15, 2022
First published: January 2017 Updated: June 2022 Boundary disputes are among the most common and most contentious disputes between property owners, and often people are unsure of how to resolve a boundary dispute in the most efficient and effective way possible. With the extensive growth, development, subdividing, and booming sales of property in our…
April 28, 2022
Are You Starting a Remodeling Project in Your Home? Remodel projects can be rewarding, add value to your home, and increase the satisfaction you receive from your living space. Often, when owners decide to proceed with a remodel project, they fixate on their desired goals without properly appreciating the steps they should take to avoid…
December 17, 2021
Are you seeing excess water on your property or moisture in your home? Here in the Pacific Northwest, we get a good share of rain and so surface water (runoff) and saturated soil are not uncommon. But how much is too much water? Here are some signs of excess water: Standing water that lasts…
September 9, 2021
Dave von Beck, Katie J. Comstock, and Seth E. Chastain Named Seattle’s Super Lawyers for Construction Litigation Congratulations to shareholder Dave von Beck who has been selected as a 2021 Washington Super Lawyer and Top Rated Construction Litigation Attorney in Seattle, WA by Super Lawyers®. The Super Lawyer list is the product of a…
September 3, 2021
If you purchased a home with concealed defects, please feel free to contact us to investigate and assess your potential rights and remedies.
August 10, 2021
The Corporate LiveWire Global Prestige Awards small and medium-sized businesses that have proven to be the best in their field over the past 12 months. Congratulations to Levy | von Beck | Comstock for being named Real Estate Law Firm of the Year!
June 8, 2021
If you purchased a home with concealed defects, please feel free to contact us to investigate and assess your potential rights and remedies.
June 8, 2021
Here in the Pacific Northwest, we get the full gamut of weather over the course of a typical year. But our rain – including wind-driven rain – is prevalent enough that we are known for it worldwide. As a homeowner or commercial building owner, you cannot afford to ignore the exterior maintenance work necessary to protect your preperty.
March 9, 2021
The real estate market continues to boom in many areas, which means that buyers often have an elevated sense of urgency in making an offer on a home. Here are 3 tips for buying a home during the pandemic.
February 5, 2021
The real estate market continues to boom in many areas, which means that buyers often have an elevated sense of urgency in making an offer on a home. Here are 3 tips for buying a home during the pandemic.
January 13, 2021
The real estate market continues to boom in many areas, which means that buyers often have an elevated sense of urgency in making an offer on a home. Here are 3 tips for buying a home during the pandemic.
January 8, 2021
Please click here to view our first article regarding commercial landlord and tenant rights with regards to evictions during the COVID 19 global pandemic. In this article we are providing updates on the various emergency orders and proclamations in Washington state affecting commercial landlords and tenants: Orders Applying to All Commercial Landlords and Tenants…
October 22, 2020
Lien Rights in the Pacific Northwest With construction still booming in the Pacific Northwest despite countervailing economic forces at play, we will likely see an increase in late payments and defaults to our creditor clients who provide labor or materials on these projects. Fortunately, we can usually file a mechanic’s lien that gives our…
October 15, 2020
Insurance Coverage and the “EFFICIENT PROXIMATE CAUSE” In Washington, a judicial doctrine called the “efficient proximate cause” rule may apply and affect insurance coverage when multiple events combine to cause a loss. The doctrine is considered “friendly” to insureds because it sometimes creates coverage for a loss caused in part by an excluded peril,…
September 26, 2020
Flooding and The Common Enemy Doctrine Few things cause the kind of extensive and immediate damage to a home that a flooding incident does. All too often, flooding occurs without warning and the results are devastating and expensive to remedy. Sometimes it is a neighboring property owner’s actions that cause water to inundate…
September 4, 2020
Buying a new home? Here’s what you need to know about qualified home inspectors. For many years now, we have been urging homebuyers to always get a thorough inspection by a qualified home inspector before purchasing a home. Dave von Beck was even featured in an NBC News story on this very issue: Here…
August 7, 2020
Levy | von Beck | Comstock Awarded "Best Real Estate Litigation Firm - PACIFIC NORTHWEST" BUILD Magazine has awarded Levy | von Beck | Comstock “Best Real Estate Litigation Firm - Pacific Northwest.” The award recognizes “the innovators and visionaries” in the Real Estate and Property industry. “Each winner has shown passion, expert knowledge,…
August 5, 2020
Dave von Beck, Katie J. Comstock, and Seth E. Chastain Named Seattle’s Super Lawyers for Construction Litigation Congratulations to shareholder Dave von Beck who has been selected as a 2020 Washington Super Lawyer and Top Rated Construction Litigation Attorney in Seattle, WA by Super Lawyers®. The Super Lawyer list is the product of a…
April 15, 2020
The Stay at Home Order Does Not Affect Lien Deadlines On March 23, 2020, Governor Jay Inslee, as many other states’ governors have done since, issued a “Stay Home – Stay Safe” order affecting all Washingtonians. This order effectively halted a significant portion of pending construction projects throughout Washington. In a statement issued on…
April 8, 2020
Considering an Insurance Claim for Business Interruption Due to COVID-19? Here’s What You Should Know Throughout the United States, thousands of businesses have been forced to cease typical operations to quell the spread of COVID-19. Unfortunately, this virus has caused massive lost profits for these businesses. Does one of your business’s insurance policies provide…
April 8, 2020
How to Comply with Washington’s Non-Essential Construction Order On March 23, 2020, Governor Jay Inslee announced a “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order. Pursuant to this order, Governor Inslee prohibited all non-essential businesses from operating. However, the prohibition did not apply to “Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers,” which many construction companies and industry groups initially…
April 7, 2020
Washington Moratorium on Commercial Evictions On March 17, 2020 the City of Seattle issued an Emergency Order imposing an immediate moratorium on evictions and lease terminations of tenancies of any small businesses (50 or fewer employees) and nonprofit corporations. This moratorium is effective until the earlier of (i) the date the Mayor of…
April 6, 2020
COVID-19 & Commercial Leases | Helpful Tips As the COVID-19 pandemic develops, businesses are scrambling to adjust to rapidly changing rules and policies. The implementation of these novel regulations has left many commercial landlords in the difficult position of determining if and how to enforce their leases. We’ve provided some helpful tips to…
March 4, 2020
Buying a new home? Here are 5 things to avoid. Our law firm has been representing home buyers here in the Pacific Northwest for decades. We have been through several of Seattle’s building booms and busts, but no matter if it’s a buyer’s market or a seller’s market, it is incumbent on you as a…
December 26, 2019
LvBC Awarded Best Law Firm for Construction Defects in the Pacific Northwest We are pleased to have just been awarded, “Best Law Firm for Construction Defect Law Firm in the Pacific Northwest” by Acquisition International. Acquisition International’s 2019 Legal Awards highlight and promote the most deserving law firms around the world that have, over the past…
August 20, 2019
An Option to Purchase clause gives the holder the exclusive right to exercise an option to purchase a property so long she has complied with the option’s terms. Tenants entering commercial leases often negotiate an Option to Purchase within an expressly stated period for exercise. But what happens when a tenant is late in seeking…
August 20, 2019
We are pleased to announce that our law firm has been recognized as “Best Construction Defect Litigation – Pacific Northwest” by U.S. Business News as part of that publication’s 2019 Legal Elite Awards. “These awards highlight the most respected lawyers and attorneys as well as their fields of expertise and the companies they represent,” said…
July 12, 2019
Many of us who have sold a home later wonder if we could have gotten a better price. Was it the right time of year to sell? Was the property advertised well? Did my realtor do everything she or he could to get me the best possible price? That last question was the subject of…
January 8, 2019
Many commercial leases include an operating covenant or continuing operations clause pursuant to which the Tenant promises to continue operating its business through the term of the lease. This clause is intended to protect the Landlord’s interest in future sales and to prevent unexpected and unsightly vacancies which negatively affect neighboring tenants and thus the…
August 23, 2018
We are pleased to announce that our law firm has been recognized as “Best Construction Defect Litigation – Washington, and Recognized Leaders in Property Insurance Claims” by U.S. Business News as part of that publication’s 2018 Legal Elite Awards. “These awards highlight the most respected lawyers and attorneys as well as their fields of expertise…
August 20, 2018
Seattle, Wash. – Levy | von Beck | Comstock has been selected to receive the Seattle Small Business Excellence Award in the Lawyers classification. The 2018 Seattle Small Business Excellence Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. The Seattle Small Business Excellence Awards recognizes outstanding small businesses that serve the Seattle area. Each year, the…
June 18, 2018
Congratulations to shareholders Katie J. Comstock and Seth E. Chastain, who have been named as 2018 Washington Rising Stars® by Super Lawyers®, and as Top Rated Construction Litigation Attorneys in Seattle, WA. Katie was also named to the Top Women Attorneys in Washington Rising Stars® list. The Rising Stars® list recognizes lawyers who show tremendous talent and potential…
May 8, 2018
Katie Weighs In On KIRO 7’s HOA Lawsuit Story KIRO 7 reached out to Katie for comment on a local real estate lawsuit featuring a homeowner and the Lakeland Hills HOA, a subdivision near Auburn, WA. Watch the video for the full story.
April 25, 2018
On March 26, 2018, Washington’s Court of Appeals released its decision in Moun Keodalah and Aung Keodalah v. Allstate Insurance Company, et al., an important new case in which the court held that insurance adjusters may be found individually liable for bad faith and for Consumer Protection Act (“CPA)” violations. The Plaintiff, Keodalah, was involved…
January 29, 2018
We are pleased to announce that attorney Seth Chastain has become a shareholder at Levy | von Beck | Comstock. Now in his eighth year practicing law, Seth continues to demonstrate the very best skills as an advocate for our clients. His numerous, recent successes include winning in the Court of Appeals and resolving numerous…
January 12, 2018
Our lawsuit against Eastside realtors has captured the interest of the media and the public. The Seattle Times wrote a feature article on the lawsuit and quoted lead lawyer and managing shareholder Dave von Beck. You can read the article here: https://www.seattletimes.com/business/real-estate/lawsuit-eastside-realtor-and-developer-conspired-to-inflate-home-prices-for-foreign-buyers/?utm_source=email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=article_left_1.1
December 12, 2017
We are pleased to have been awarded, “Best Law Firm for Construction Defect Litigation in the Pacific Northwest” for the second year in a row by Acquisition International. Acquisition International’s 2017 Legal Awards highlight and promote the most deserving companies across the world that have, over the past 12 months, demonstrated an unwavering commitment to outstanding…
November 13, 2017
This past summer a new law took effect in Washington that will make it easier and more appealing for a general contractor to accept a smaller public works project. Until now, if a general contractor was performing work with a total contract value equal to or less than $35,000 or less, the public body would…
October 26, 2017
Remodeling your home is a great way to build equity in your property while creating a more comfortable and more livable space for you and your family. But a home remodel project can easily run into trouble, especially when economic times are good because a good economy means well-qualified contractors are busy – and that…
October 26, 2017
Levy | von Beck | Comstock | P.S. managing shareholder Dave von Beck has been awarded “Construction Defect Lawyer of the Year in Washington” as part of the 2018 International Advisory Experts awards. The annual awards given by International Advisory Experts pay tribute to individuals and firms in the legal and financial fields from around…
September 13, 2017
Katie Comstock, a shareholder at Levy | von Beck | Comstock, P.S., has been selected as a Fellow of the Construction Lawyers Society of America (CLSA). She is one of only 18 Washington lawyers to receive this honor, and one of 1,200 active practicing lawyers worldwide. The CLSA is an international honorary association with the…
September 7, 2017
Construction defects vary greatly in nature, scope, and consequence. Here in the Pacific Northwest, the most serious construction defects often involve inadequate waterproofing of the “building envelope”: a roof that leaks, windows and doors installed without critical head flashings, poor installation of the weather-resistive barrier that should be applied before the siding is installed, or…
August 1, 2017
On July 17, 2017, Seth Chastain of Levy | von Beck | Comstock won a significant victory in front of the Washington State Court of Appeals. After reviewing Seth’s briefing and hearing Seth’s oral argument, the Court of Appeals unanimously decided to overturn the Superior Court’s summary judgment dismissal of his client’s breach of contract…
June 12, 2017
Congratulations to shareholder Katie J. Comstock, and attorney Seth E. Chastain, who have been named as 2017 Washington Rising Stars® by Super Lawyers®, as Top Rated Construction Litigation Attorneys in Seattle, WA. Katie was also named to the Top Women Attorneys in Washington Rising Stars® list. The Rising Stars® list recognizes lawyers who show tremendous talent…
May 9, 2017
Our law firm has been representing homebuyers in the Pacific Northwest for decades, so we have seen several building booms and busts over the years. When the housing market is red-hot, many buyers feel compelled to act quickly, often too quickly, when buying a home or condominium unit. For example, a buyer might waive the…
February 13, 2017
The importance of liens in securing payment on construction projects cannot be overstated. Washington’s lien law was enacted primarily to safeguard contractors’, material suppliers’, and laborers’ rights to payment on construction projects. Failing or refusing to utilize Washington’s lien procedures could turn out to be a catastrophic mistake. At times, having a valid lien in…