Updating to Pidgin 2.5.6 resolved the bug.
Unfortunately, this update will not reach most users because "Ubuntu ships Pidgin but does not update it after a release (except for security issues). For those users who desire new releases of Pidgin, we have packaged Pidgin in a PPA."
Instructions for setting up the PPA to allow Pidgin updates in Jaunty: http://pidgin.im/download/ubuntu/
Updating to Pidgin 2.5.6 resolved the bug.
Unfortunately, this update will not reach most users because "Ubuntu ships Pidgin but does not update it after a release (except for security issues). For those users who desire new releases of Pidgin, we have packaged Pidgin in a PPA."
Instructions for setting up the PPA to allow Pidgin updates in Jaunty: http:// pidgin. im/download/ ubuntu/