Index: /home/mizematr/src_production/msgcntr/messageforums-component-impl/src/java/org/sakaiproject/component/app/messageforums/ui/PrivateMessageManagerImpl.java
===================================================================
--- /home/mizematr/src_production/msgcntr/messageforums-component-impl/src/java/org/sakaiproject/component/app/messageforums/ui/PrivateMessageManagerImpl.java	(revision 1232)
+++ /home/mizematr/src_production/msgcntr/messageforums-component-impl/src/java/org/sakaiproject/component/app/messageforums/ui/PrivateMessageManagerImpl.java	(working copy)
@@ -1252,7 +1252,12 @@
           + ") has empty recipient list");
     }
 
-    int recordIndex = pvtMessage.getRecipients().indexOf(searchRecipient);
+    int recordIndex = -1;
+    for(int i  = 0; i < pvtMessage.getRecipients().size(); i++) {
+    	if(((PrivateMessageRecipientImpl) pvtMessage.getRecipients().get(i)).getUserId().equals(searchRecipient.getUserId())){
+    		recordIndex = i;
+    	}      
+    }
 
     if (recordIndex != -1)
     {