Latest In Law
A collection of thoughts from our team.
Navigating Washington’s contractor bond claim process.
What to do when building your dream home becomes a nightmare: Navigating Washington’s contractor bond claim process. Casey N. Kinross, Associate AttorneyRobert T. Wright, PartnerYou’ve spent years saving to remodel your home. You find a contractor to help bring your...
Federal Trade Commission bans non-compete agreements
New Federal Trade Commission rule bans non-compete agreements. Samuel J. Fenton, Associate Attorney In a move set to impact millions of American workers, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has voted 3-2 in favor of a new rule that will prohibit the enforcement of most...
What’s in a name?
What's in a name? Wolff, Hislop, Crockett changes their name.As Shakespeare famously mused, “What’s in a name?” For us at Wolff, Hislop & Crockett, a name represents not just our identity but also our development. Today, we’re excited to announce a significant...
Rob Wright: Partner
Robert Wright: Partner What does it mean to be a partner, anyway?We’re excited to announce Robert Wright is now a "partner" in our firm. But what does "partner" mean in a law firm?We are thrilled to announce that Rob Wright has been named a partner at our firm, a...
Homeowner friendly changes coming to Contractor Registration Act.
Sweeping homeowner friendly changes coming to the Contractor Registration Act. House Bill 1534Significant changes are coming to the Washington Contractor Registration statutes, intended to strengthen protections for consumers in the construction industry and to create...
Supreme Court Dismantles Construction Contracts.
Supreme Court deconstructs contractual limitation in residential construction contracts. Tadych vs. noble ridge construction inc.On October 27, 2022, in Tadych v. Noble Ridge Construction, Inc., the Washington State Supreme Court dismantled the use of a one-year...
Workers Compensation Rate Increase.
Workers Compensation Rate to increase by an average of 4.8%. L&I proposes a rate increase in 2023.Starting January 1, 2023 Washington Workers’ Compensation Rate to increase by an average of 4.8% after Washington’s Department of Labor & Industries annual fall...
Mandatory Shade.
Mandatory Shade. L&I’s Emergency Response to Record-High TemperaturesThere is no denying that it is hot this summer. The Pacific Northwest has seen record setting temperatures over the past few weeks. In response, Washington State’s Department of Labor &...
Why Letters Testamentary Matter.
Why letters testamentary matter. A unique document provided to you by a judge that shows your authority to sign on behalf of someone else.Earlier this spring Spokane with ranked the 10th hottest real estate market in the US, and Coeur d' Alene was ranked #16. This is...
Heating Up: Preparing for a drought.
Heating Up: Preparing for a drought. What Spokane residents should know about the upcoming drought, water conservation, and enforcing water rights.Washington State Department of Ecology issued a drought advisory on May 24th.A quick survey of the news reveals alarming...
3 tips to avoid getting burned by a contractor.
3 tips to avoid getting burned by a contractor. Useful legal information when building or remodeling.Jim and Pam have come into our office to talk about their legal options regarding a dispute with their contractor. Six months ago, they hired a contractor to finally...
Washington’s New Long Term Care Payroll Tax
Washington’s new long-term care payroll tax. What is it for and how much will it cost?Starting January 1, 2022, employees in Washington State will begin paying a new payroll tax of 0.58% of their wages, unless they opt out by purchasing a long-term care insurance...
Can I gamble on the Zags game?
The NCAA Champion will be crowned tonight. Can I legally bet on the Zags? What are the sports gambling laws in Washington and Idaho?This time last year COVID-19 shut down the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, aka March Madness. Now, not only is March...
Aaron Dunham: Partner
We’re excited to announce Aaron Dunham is now a “partner” in our firm. But what does “partner” mean in a law firm?
Today, it means different things depending on what law firm you are talking about. From TV shows you would think that means the lawyer has arrived – the attorney will be living a lavish lifestyle, making the big bucks, going out to expensive dinners and making all the younger attorneys do the work.
Five Reasons to Review Your Estate Plan
If you already have an estate plan then you are ahead of most Americans. According to one survey in 2020, less than 1/3 of Americans have an estate plan. However, your estate plan may need to change. The will you executed five or ten years ago, may no longer reflect your current situation. That is why you should review your estate plan periodically to make sure it accurately reflects your wishes.
Navigating Covid-19 Employment Decisions.
As you all know, the COVID 19 Pandemic and the Governmental Actions in response have created very challenging business conditions. Employers are facing difficult decisions trying to balance taking care of their employees while ensuring the continued viability of their companies during this crisis and beyond.
Can I change my last will and testament myself?
In a world where do-it-yourself (“DIY”) projects are all the rage and the internet provides guides to everything from DIY home improvement to DIY tattoos, a person may be tempted to try his or her hand at revising/changing an existing Last Will and Testament. The unfortunate reality is that some matters- including estate planning- are ill suited to tackle without special knowledge and training.
What is trademark law and why is it important?
Producers of “Rolex”, “Mercedes Benz”, and “Louis Vuitton” have put significant effort into creating a name consumers associate with luxury, quality, and reliability. If an inferior product is released in the market with a confusingly similar mark consumers may be duped into buying what they thought was the higher quality product.