--- merci.module	2011-02-01 07:48:14.000000000 -0800
+++ merci_modified.module	2011-02-01 08:51:44.000000000 -0800
@@ -1003,6 +1003,11 @@ function merci_load_item_settings($node,
         break;
     }
   }
+  // Avoid 'Fatal error: Unsupported operand types'
+  if(empty($item_settings)) {
+    $item_settings = array();
+  }
+  
   // Could possibly add a hook here to override the settings.
   return $item_settings + $content_settings;
 }