package empathy-common 3.12.12-3ubuntu1 failed to install/upgrade: package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should reinstall it before attempting configuration

this error happened during upgrade from 16.04 to 16.10

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.10
Package: empathy-common 3.12.12-3ubuntu1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.4.0-47.68-generic 4.4.24
Uname: Linux 4.4.0-47-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.3-0ubuntu8
Architecture: amd64
Date: Fri Nov 18 22:43:47 2016
DuplicateSignature:
 package:empathy-common:3.12.12-3ubuntu1
 Setting up libboost-random1.61.0:amd64 (1.61.0+dfsg-2.1) ...
 dpkg: error processing package empathy-common (--configure):
  package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should
ErrorMessage: package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should reinstall it before attempting configuration
InstallationDate: Installed on 2015-06-12 (525 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 15.04 "Vivid Vervet" - Release amd64 (20150422)
PackageArchitecture: all
RelatedPackageVersions:
 dpkg 1.18.10ubuntu1
 apt 1.3.1
SourcePackage: empathy
Title: package empathy-common 3.12.12-3ubuntu1 failed to install/upgrade: package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should reinstall it before attempting configuration
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)