News
News
Are You Protecting Your Workers From the Hazards of Wildfire Smoke?
With summer just around the corner, it is time for employers with outdoor employees to make sure they are complaint with Washington’s new wildfire smoke regulations. This winter, Washington Labor and Industries promulgated new permanent regulations requiring employers to take a number of steps to protect workers from the hazards of wildfire smoke. The new
My Spouse Filed for Divorce: What Should I Do Next?
Don’t Panic Divorce often feels frightening and overwhelming, especially at the beginning if it came as a surprise. Even if you do not oppose the divorce and were expecting the paperwork, reading a divorce petition for the first time can invoke strong feelings and emotions. Take a deep breath. This is the time to take
2024 Estate Planning Opportunities
The start of a new year is a great time to review your current estate plan or consider creating one. 2024 brings a number of opportunities for creating an estate plan, pursuing gifting strategies, and considering philanthropic goals. Here are a few estate planning opportunities for your consideration this year: Increased Estate, Gift, and Generation-Skipping
The Nuts and Bolts of Appeals: Preservation, Prejudice, and Presentation
Why Appeal at All? People appeal their case because they want a better outcome then what they received at trial. Maybe that means that the appealing party lost a jury verdict, or felt that they didn’t “win” enough at trial. Perhaps someone in a divorce trial receives 55% of the assets but no spousal support
Should I Hire a Divorce Attorney or Represent Myself?
Family courts regularly hear a number of cases involving parties who decide to represent themselves rather than hire an attorney. These parties are known as “pro se” litigants (meaning “for oneself” in Latin). If you are deciding whether to represent yourself or hire an attorney in your family law case, here are some considerations: Pro
Do I Have a Claim Against my Contractor? Prelitigation Notice Requirements for Residential Defect Claims in Washington
When faced with a residential construction defect problem—such as water intrusion, poor workmanship, or material/design deficiencies—Washington homeowners are often left wondering whether they have a claim, who is at fault for the construction issues, and what to do if they believe a claim exists. These are complicated questions that can get even more complicated if
What Does the Corporate Transparency Act Mean to Me and My Business?
***UPDATE: Per the U.S. Treasury Department announcement, FinCEN is now dead except for some limited foreign entity reporting. See post at FINCEN Filings Terminated for additional information.*** A few years ago, Congress passed the Corporate Transparency Act, 31 U.S.C. 5336 (“CTA”), which established certain required information filings with the U.S. Treasury Financial Crimes Enforcement Network
Top 5 Lessons Learned from 2023 Celebrity Divorces
Divorce is a difficult and emotional process that can be overwhelming for many of us. For celebrities, their divorces are often played out in the public eye, making it even more challenging. As a divorce attorney, I have considered some of the many high-profile divorces from 2023 and the lessons that can be learned from
Lasher Holzapfel Sperry & Ebberson, PLLC Names New Principal
Lasher Holzapfel Sperry & Ebberson is proud to announce that, effective January 1, 2024, Julie M. Pendleton has been elevated to Principal in the Firm, where she serves a wide variety of clients in commercial litigation, real estate litigation and trust & estates litigation. Lasher Managing Principal Mario Bianchi added, “We are delighted to announce
Washington State Paid Sick Leave Updates for 2024
Paid sick and other leave benefits are changing in 2024. Construction workers, other than workers solely working in residential building construction, who do not reach the minimum 90 days of employment with a particular employer to be eligible to use paid sick leave will now be paid their accrued, but unused sick leave benefits following