new returns null?

I've got an action in a controller that looks like this:

    def create = {
        def instance = new MyClass()
        instance.properties = params
        def subject = SecurityUtils.getSubject()
        instance.author = User.findByUsername(subject.getPrinciple())
        return ['instance':instance]
    }

The class, MyClass, is a domain class.  Nothing particularly special
here.  It has a few constraints and four fields.  

The problem I'm having is that right after assignment the variable
instance is null.  Shouldn't new always returns something here?

Thanks.

--
Ken T. <ktectropy@...>


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