Casey & Skoglund, PLLC

Westview Estates is a residential community comprising of 24 single family detached homes, located in South Seattle. Construction began in 2000, upon receipt by the developer of a three million dollar development loan by Washington First International Bank. Eventually, over the course of three years of construction, the loan was increased to slightly more than four million dollars. Despite the additional money, by 2004 it was clear the developer was unable to complete and sell more than 12 of the 24 homes. The developer defaulted on its Washington First International Bank loan in early 2004. Thereafter, the Bank took the property back from the original developer and created its own, wholly owned subsidiary, RE Property. The Bank created RE to complete the construction and sell the homes for a profit. However, in 2007 the City stopped the Bank and its subsidiary from attempting to sell any more of the homes. In 2007 City of Seattle building inspectors identified significant construction defects pertaining to the underground utilities, retaining walls and other aspects of the construction and, as a result, issued multiple Notices of Violation, with associated fines and penalties.

Somerset Park is a 134-unit condominium community located in Everett, Washington. Somerset was built between 1998 and 1999, and developed by The Quadrant Corporation.

Approximately five years after the project was completed, the Somerset Homeowners Association commissioned an envelope study. The inspection revealed numerous violations of the building code, architectural plans and construction industry standards. The defects included: improper roof installation; problems with the installation of the weather resistive barrier; improper foundation and concrete work; siding and window installation issues; and installation problems with the project’s gutters.