Index: lams_tool_forum/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/tool/forum/persistence/Message.java
===================================================================
diff -u -r59e4b8d442ec5f40e2e7a5bef1bda2059953b59a -r0ebd509f53c24710b2039233892e689bde3ac87c
--- lams_tool_forum/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/tool/forum/persistence/Message.java	(.../Message.java)	(revision 59e4b8d442ec5f40e2e7a5bef1bda2059953b59a)
+++ lams_tool_forum/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/tool/forum/persistence/Message.java	(.../Message.java)	(revision 0ebd509f53c24710b2039233892e689bde3ac87c)
@@ -173,18 +173,20 @@
 		if (!(o instanceof Message))
 			return false;
 		
-		final Message genericEntity = (Message) o;
+		Message genericEntity = (Message) o;
 
+		// uses same attributes to determine equality as 
+		// ConditionTopicComparator.compare()
       	return new EqualsBuilder()
-      	.append(this.uid,genericEntity.uid)
-      	.append(this.subject,genericEntity.subject)
-      	.append(this.body,genericEntity.body)
-      	.append(this.replyNumber,genericEntity.replyNumber)
-      	.append(this.lastReplyDate,genericEntity.lastReplyDate)
-      	.append(this.created,genericEntity.created)
-      	.append(this.updated,genericEntity.updated)
-      	.append(this.createdBy,genericEntity.createdBy)
-      	.append(this.modifiedBy,genericEntity.modifiedBy)
+      	//.append(this.uid,genericEntity.getUid())
+      	.append(this.subject,genericEntity.getSubject())
+      	.append(this.body,genericEntity.getBody())
+      	.append(this.replyNumber,genericEntity.getReplyNumber())
+      	//.append(this.lastReplyDate,genericEntity.lastReplyDate)
+      	//.append(this.created,genericEntity.created)
+      	//.append(this.updated,genericEntity.updated)
+      	.append(this.createdBy,genericEntity.getCreatedBy())
+      	.append(this.modifiedBy,genericEntity.getModifiedBy())
       	.isEquals();
 	}
 
Index: lams_tool_forum/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/tool/forum/util/ConditionTopicComparator.java
===================================================================
diff -u -rc081e2b0c9c82fc97d2d39fb7109c9c2f10ff224 -r0ebd509f53c24710b2039233892e689bde3ac87c
--- lams_tool_forum/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/tool/forum/util/ConditionTopicComparator.java	(.../ConditionTopicComparator.java)	(revision c081e2b0c9c82fc97d2d39fb7109c9c2f10ff224)
+++ lams_tool_forum/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/tool/forum/util/ConditionTopicComparator.java	(.../ConditionTopicComparator.java)	(revision 0ebd509f53c24710b2039233892e689bde3ac87c)
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 
 import java.util.Comparator;
 
+import org.apache.commons.lang.builder.EqualsBuilder;
 import org.lamsfoundation.lams.tool.forum.persistence.Message;
 
 /**
@@ -39,6 +40,20 @@
 
     public int compare(Message o1, Message o2) {
 	if (o1 != null && o2 != null) {
+	    // use same attributes to determine equality as Message.equals() method
+	    if (new EqualsBuilder()
+	      	//.append(o1.getUid(),o2.getUid())
+	      	.append(o1.getSubject(),o2.getSubject())
+	      	.append(o1.getBody(),o2.getBody())
+	      	.append(o1.getReplyNumber(),o2.getReplyNumber())
+	      	//.append(this.lastReplyDate,genericEntity.lastReplyDate)
+	      	//.append(this.created,genericEntity.created)
+	      	//.append(this.updated,genericEntity.updated)
+	      	.append(o1.getCreatedBy(),o2.getCreatedBy())
+	      	.append(o1.getModifiedBy(),o2.getModifiedBy())
+	      	.isEquals()) {
+		return 0;
+	    }
 	    return new DateComparator().compare(o1.getCreated(), o2.getCreated());
 	} else if (o1 != null) {
 	    return 1;