code: public String getParameter( String name )
      {
          if (_parameters == null || !_parameters.hasParameters())
              return null;
  
          List parameters = _parameters.getParameterValues(name);
          if(parameters != null && parameters.size() > 0)
              return (String)parameters.get(0);
          else return null;
      }
docs: Returns the value of the parameter. If several values are associated with the given
  parameter name, the first value is returned.
  
  @param name a name of the parameter
  @return value associated with the given parameter name