Index: lams_tool_forum/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/tool/forum/service/ForumService.java
===================================================================
diff -u -r33da76d05725a84e191a5f6dca50b394cca3c1ee -r5c1b68500cee552c70a5f1c5fe510687eac07b8d
--- lams_tool_forum/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/tool/forum/service/ForumService.java	(.../ForumService.java)	(revision 33da76d05725a84e191a5f6dca50b394cca3c1ee)
+++ lams_tool_forum/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/tool/forum/service/ForumService.java	(.../ForumService.java)	(revision 5c1b68500cee552c70a5f1c5fe510687eac07b8d)
@@ -1043,7 +1043,10 @@
 
 	Forum defaultContent = getDefaultForum();
 	if (defaultContent.getConditions().isEmpty()) {
-	    defaultContent.getConditions().add(getForumOutputFactory().createDefaultTopicDateToAnswersCondition(defaultContent));
+	    ForumCondition defaultCondition = getForumOutputFactory().createDefaultTopicDateToAnswersCondition(defaultContent);
+	    if (defaultCondition != null) {
+		defaultContent.getConditions().add(defaultCondition);
+	    }
 	}
 	// get default content by given ID.
 	Forum content = Forum.newInstance(defaultContent, contentID, forumToolContentHandler);