diff --git a/workflow/engine/classes/class.derivation.php b/workflow/engine/classes/class.derivation.php
index 3327d9306..6a252e0fe 100644
--- a/workflow/engine/classes/class.derivation.php
+++ b/workflow/engine/classes/class.derivation.php
@@ -321,6 +321,7 @@ class Derivation
     else {
       $oCriteria = new Criteria();
       $oCriteria->add(UsersPeer::USR_UID, $aUsers);
+      var_dump(UsersPeer::doCount($oCriteria));
       if (UsersPeer::doCount($oCriteria) < 1) {
         return null;
       }
@@ -417,23 +418,17 @@ class Derivation
            $userFields['USR_LASTNAME']  = '';
            $userFields['USR_EMAIL']     = '';
 
-           //look for USR_REPORTS_TO to this user
+           //get the report_to user & its full info
            $useruid = $this->getDenpendentUser($tasInfo['USER_UID']);
-           if ( isset ( $useruid ) ) {
-             if ($useruid != '') {
-               $value = $useruid;
-               $userFields = $this->getUsersFullNameFromArray ($value);
-               if (is_null($userFields)) {
-                 //throw ( new Exception("The current user does not have a valid Reports To user.  Please contact administrator.") ) ;
-               }
-             }
-             else {
-               //throw ( new Exception("The current user does not have a valid Reports To user.  Please contact administrator.") ) ;
-             }
+           
+           if (isset($useruid) && $useruid != '') {
+             $userFields = $this->getUsersFullNameFromArray($useruid);
+           }
+           
+           // if there is no report_to user info, throw an exception indicating this
+           if (!isset($userFields) || $userFields['USR_UID'] == '') {
+             throw ( new Exception("The current user does not have a valid Reports To user.  Please contact administrator.") ) ;
            }
-           else
-              $userFields = "ERROR";
-             //throw ( new Exception("The current user does not have a valid Reports To user.  Please contact administrator.") ) ;
            break;
 
       case 'SELF_SERVICE' :
diff --git a/workflow/engine/methods/cases/cases_Step.php b/workflow/engine/methods/cases/cases_Step.php
index 50ccf3c09..87e67013e 100644
--- a/workflow/engine/methods/cases/cases_Step.php
+++ b/workflow/engine/methods/cases/cases_Step.php
@@ -963,9 +963,9 @@
     //Add content content step - End
   }
   catch ( Exception $e ) {
-    G::SendTemporalMessage($e->getMessage(), 'error', 'string', 3, 100);
+    G::SendTemporalMessage(G::LoadTranslation('ID_PROCESS_DEF_PROBLEM'), 'error', 'string', 3, 100);
     $aMessage = array();
-    $aMessage['MESSAGE'] = G::LoadTranslation('ID_PROCESS_DEF_PROBLEM').'<br/>'.G::LoadTranslation('ID_CONTACT_ADMIN');
+    $aMessage['MESSAGE'] = $e->getMessage();
     $G_PUBLISH          = new Publisher;
     $G_PUBLISH->AddContent('xmlform', 'xmlform', 'login/showMessage', '', $aMessage );
     G::RenderPage( 'publish', 'blank' );