Illegal string offset Error - Any ideas?

[kronnos]

Anyone have any idea what this error could mean on top of the page?

Warning: Illegal string offset 'ds' in [path]/awcoding/plugins/awc.php on line 296

Its showing up for only on top of threads that have a donation award image under username in their post.

Here is what line 296-300 of the awc.php looks like:

if ( $awc_goal['extra'] == 2 ){
print_description_row( $vbphrase['awc_goal_extra_2'], 0, 2, 'thead', $stylevar['left'] );
} else {
print_yes_no_row( $vbphrase['awc_goal_extra'], 'extra_'.$awc_goal['id'], $awc_goal['extra'] );
}

I doubt I would get any help from the mod developer since its in the graveyard but i would atleast want to figure out a temp fix untill I chnage to something else.

BTW - I think this started to happen after I updated server to latest php version 5.4.

Thanks!