September 2, 2010 - On September 1, 2010, the Washington State Department of Commerce (DOC) issued two requests for proposals (RFPs) to receive allocations of unused volume cap for two types of municipal bonds authorized by the American Recovery and ...

August 18, 2010 - In a precedent-setting opinion,1 the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that stormwater runoff from logging roads that is collected in ditches, culverts and channels and discharged to surface water requires a water quality discharge ...

August 9, 2010 - The American Bar Association has appointed Greg Guedel, Chair of Foster Pepper’s Native American Legal Services Group, as Chair of the ABA’s national Native American Concerns Committee. The Committee works to harness the vast resources ...

August 6, 2010 - The Transportation Industries Group of Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to present the third issue of The Intermodal Lead, a newsletter summarizing legal developments in freight carriage, logistics and transportation infrastructure for ...

July 29, 2010 - On July 21, 2010, President Obama signed a new financial reform bill, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which requires changes in important mortgage lending practices. Title IX of the new law is called the ...

July 28, 2010 - Video and audio podcasts from Foster Pepper's July 26th Public Works seminar are now available. The program provides guidance to municipal agencies on how to maximize the success of public works projects through effective contracting ...

July 21, 2010 - Effective July 13, 2010, public housing authorities in Washington are subject to state alternative public works statutes for non-federal projects. New revisions to RCW 39.10 provide that "All housing authorities shall be subject ...

July 7, 2010 - On July 6th, the Washington State Department of Commerce announced $1 million in competitive grant funding for incorporated cities and towns located in the Puget Sound Regional Counsel region. The grants are to help eligible communities ...

July 6, 2010 - In South Tacoma Way L.L.C. v State of Washington and Sustainable Urban Development #1, L.L.C., ___ Wn.2d ___, ___ P.3d ___ (June 24, 2010), the Washington Supreme Court clarified the scope of the ultra vires and bona fide purchaser doctrines ...

June 16, 2010 - The Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals has allowed non-settling Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs) to intervene in a Superfund case in order to challenge a Consent Decree agreed to by EPA and other responsible parties. In United ...

June 7, 2010 - Changes to Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 15c2-12 On May 26, 2010, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) announced that it voted unanimously to approve rule changes intended to improve the quality and timeliness ...

June 4, 2010 - The Transportation Industries Group of Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to present the second issue of The Intermodal Lead, a newsletter summarizing legal developments in freight carriage, logistics and transportation infrastructure for firm ...

April 23, 2010 - The Transportation Industries Group of Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to present the first issue of The Intermodal Lead, a newsletter summarizing legal developments in freight carriage, logistics and transportation infrastructure for ...

April 2, 2010 - Two of the three major credit rating agencies—Moody’s Investors Service and Fitch Ratings—recently announced plans to “recalibrate” their ratings on obligations issued by states and local governments. These recalibrations generally should ...

March 17, 2010 - The 2010 Washington Legislature has created a new local government financing tool through the enactment of ESSB 6241 (Chap. 7, Laws of 2010). The bill allows cities and counties to create community facilities districts (“CFDs”) to finance ...

March 8, 2010 - In response to the downturn in residential development, the Washington Legislature recently passed Substitute Senate Bill 6544. If signed by the Governor, this Bill would amend RCW 58.17.140 to extend the time for submitting a final plat ...

February 12, 2010 - As a result of the 2001 Tax Act, officially known as the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001, federal estate and generation-skipping transfer taxes have been repealed for 2010. Under the 2001 Tax Act, unless ...

by Bill Lynch, Attorney, Financial Institutions Group, Foster Pepper PLLC and Charlie Shannon, Partner, Financial Services Group, Moss Adams LLP [To view, print or e-mail a copy of this News Alert in PDF, please click here.] February 5, 2010 - Adverse ...

February 4, 2010 - Today the trial court issued a long anticipated ruling in the McCleary v. State case – holding that the State’s underfunding of its public schools is so severe that it violates Article IX, section 1 of our State Constitution. Foster ...

February 1, 2010 - The IRS has publicly announced that it expects to issue in 2010 a “Compliance Check Questionnaire” to every governmental unit that issued “direct pay” Build America Bonds in 2009. The compliance check questionnaires will, among other ...

January 28, 2010 - President Barack Obama announced today that Washington state will receive $590 million of stimulus funding aimed at developing new high (or higher) speed and intercity passenger rail services. The majority of the funds will be used ...

January 5, 2010 - On December 30, 2009, the Washington State Department of Commerce (DOC) announced that the application deadline for local governments to apply for eligibility to issue Qualified Energy Conservation Bonds (QEC Bonds) would be extended ...