code: public String getFieldValue(String name) {
          String field = (String)fields.get(name);
          if (field == null) {
              return null;
          }
          else {
          	return field;
          }
      }
docs: Gets the field value or <CODE>null</CODE> if the field does not
  exist or has no value defined.
  @param name the fully qualified field name
  @return the field value or <CODE>null</CODE>