Organization
Matthew DeVries
Best Practices Construction Law is a legal blog authored by Matthew J. DeVries, a shareholder at Buchalter, a full-service business law firm with offices across several U.S. states. The blog focuses on legal issues and best practices within the construction industry, covering topics such as risk assessment, claims management, contract drafting, project management, technology in construction, alternative dispute resolution, and legal trends. It provides analysis and commentary relevant to contractors, developers, owners, and other stakeholders involved in construction projects, including public infrastructure and commercial developments. The content aims to address practical problems and solutions encountered in construction law and project execution.
482 published works
Best Practices Construction Law
Words and Numbers: Contractor Forfeits Bid Bond When It Mistakenly Leaves Out “Thousand” Word
Contractors make mistakes with words. Contractors make mistakes with numbers. And sometimes, a mistake with words leads to a mistake with numbers. In Clark Construction Co. v. Alabama Highway Department,…
Best Practices Construction Law
Say What? The Rise of Criminal Liability for Construction Accidents
Today’s guest post is by Chris Meyers and Cheri Gatlin, two of my fellow partners at Burr & Forman, LLP. Chris is a partner and Cheri Gatlin is Chair of…
Best Practices Construction Law
How Important Is That Little Green Card? Pretty Darn Important Says One Court.
We live in a world of e-mails, IMs, texts, Snapchats, Instagrams and the occasional fax. Although information is transmitted instantaneously in today's environment, proof of receipt of that information (often…
Best Practices Construction Law
Do Not Pass “Go” You Out-of-State, Unlicensed Contractor
I forgot how much fun it was playing family board games as a child. We recently dusted off some of the oldies like Sorry, Life and Monopoly to play with…
Best Practices Construction Law
In Construction, There’s A Tattletale And There’s What is Right
Sometimes, we avoid doing bad things because of the risk of getting caught. Other times, we avoid doing bad things because we simply choose to do right things. Whatever the…
Best Practices Construction Law
Additional Insured Status: Playing the Speak-Out Game on a Construction Project
Last weekend we played Speak-Out: Kids versus Parents, a game where you use a plastic thingy to obstruct your speech capabilities. The winning team is the one that guesses the most…
Best Practices Construction Law
My Daughter Gets No Devastation Damages…And Neither Do You Government Contractor!
Our middle child of seven kids suffers from classic Middle Child Syndrome. She has the largest heart in the family, and yet every other minute is a moment of devastation, wrought…
Best Practices Construction Law
Disney Dad Reports About New Limitations Period for Construction Claims in Florida
As a father of seven children, my wife has often accused me of being Disney Dad−something to do with the allegation that I am the "fun" parent who takes the children…
Best Practices Construction Law
“Paid in Full” Wives’ Tale True? When Endorsing A Check, Yes Ma’am!
Long before I was an attorney, I heard this tale that if you endorsed a check that had the words "PAID IN FULL" written on the check, then you were…
Best Practices Construction Law
Project Documentation: The Bad Little Email That Got Produced
Believe it or not, there are always a wealth of emails and other documents produced in litigation that help "make the case" for the other side. Take, for the example, the e-mail…