WASHINGTON, Oct. 12, 2009 - When a construction dispute turns into a claim and goes to court, success can hinge on how well the claim is documented. But to minimize exposure, it also involves knowing which information should not be documented. That delicate balance requires the expertise of an experienced attorney versed in construction law. To discuss the nuances of construction documentation as it relates to court proceedings, WPL Publishing has partnered with construction attorney Matthew Devries for an interactive webinar -- "Construction Documentation and Record Management: Get it Right to Prevail in Disputes." To register, visit http://tinyurl.com/constructiondocumentation.

In this 90-minute webinar at 1 p.m. on Wed., Oct. 21, Devries will discuss best practices for documentation and record management, as well as present sample forms and correspondence to help AEC professionals document their building projects and claims in a way that will help them prevail in court. Webinar topics also include:

• The "putting it in writing" rule - What should be recorded?
• The hearsay rule - What is it?
• Proper records essential for claims and disputes
• Critical project documentation - What is absolutely necessary and what is non-critical?
• How to use project management software and Web-based capabilities to move towards a paperless project, establish good audit trail and consolidate project documentation
• How e-mailed instructions factor into the change order process
• What happens when a project goes bad

In addition to the presentation, a 10-to-15 minute interactive question and answer period has been reserved at the end to allow listeners to discuss specific issues.

This webinar is a must for design professionals, engineers, architects, owners, contractors, subcontractors, manufacturers, suppliers and the attorneys who represent them.

Matthew Devries is a partner with the construction boutique law firm of Smith, Cashion & Orr PLC in Nashville, Tenn. He concentrates his practice on construction law, green building, employment law and commercial litigation. Devries is also the author of construction law blog www.bestpracticesconstructionlaw.com. He has written numerous articles on construction-related issues, and has given presentations on green building litigation, environmental law in the construction industry, construction law in Indian Country, project delivery systems, and the basics of construction law principles.

Webinar tuition is based on location, not number of participants, so each registration site can have multiple participants for one low price. To register, visit http://tinyurl.com/constructiondocumentation or call (301) 765-9525.

WPL Publishing Co. Inc. produces four construction newsletters: Construction Project Controls & BIM Report (www.projectcontrols.com), Construction Claims Advisor (www.constructionclaims.com), Green Building Insider (www.greenbuildinginsider.com) and Construction Advisor Today (www.constructionadvisortoday.com). It also hosts webinar series on topics relevant to the construction industry. WPL is on Twitter at CAT_Online.