Index: assignment-tool/tool/src/java/org/sakaiproject/assignment/tool/AssignmentAction.java
===================================================================
--- assignment-tool/tool/src/java/org/sakaiproject/assignment/tool/AssignmentAction.java	(revision 314773)
+++ assignment-tool/tool/src/java/org/sakaiproject/assignment/tool/AssignmentAction.java	(working copy)
@@ -3398,15 +3398,18 @@ public class AssignmentAction extends PagedResourc
 	 */
 	private void putTimePropertiesInState(SessionState state, Time timeValue,
 											String month, String day, String year, String hour, String min) {
-
+		TimeBreakdown bTime = null;
 		try {
-		TimeBreakdown bTime = timeValue.breakdownLocal();
+			bTime = timeValue.breakdownLocal();
+		} catch (NullPointerException _npe) { 
+			bTime = TimeService.newTime().breakdownLocal();
+			bTime.setHour(12); bTime.setMin(0);
+		}
 		state.setAttribute(month, Integer.valueOf(bTime.getMonth()));
 		state.setAttribute(day, Integer.valueOf(bTime.getDay()));
 		state.setAttribute(year, Integer.valueOf(bTime.getYear()));
 		state.setAttribute(hour, Integer.valueOf(bTime.getHour()));
 		state.setAttribute(min, Integer.valueOf(bTime.getMin()));
-		} catch (NullPointerException _npe) { /* TODO empty exception block */ }
 	}
 
 	/**