diff --git a/backend/models/dtos/message_dto.py b/backend/models/dtos/message_dto.py
index e4525d6a77..4a57557202 100644
--- a/backend/models/dtos/message_dto.py
+++ b/backend/models/dtos/message_dto.py
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ class ListChatMessageDTO(BaseModel):
 
     id: Optional[int] = Field(None, alias="id")
     message: str = Field(required=True)
-    picture_url: str = Field(default=None, alias="pictureUrl")
+    picture_url: Optional[str] = Field(None, alias="pictureUrl")
     timestamp: datetime
     username: str
 
diff --git a/backend/models/postgis/project.py b/backend/models/postgis/project.py
index 4ec7ec7e61..7553543133 100644
--- a/backend/models/postgis/project.py
+++ b/backend/models/postgis/project.py
@@ -655,9 +655,8 @@ async def update(self, project_dto: ProjectDTO, db: Database):
                 await ProjectInfo.update_from_dto(ProjectInfo(**project_info), dto, db)
 
         # Always clear Priority Area prior to updating
-
+        await Project.clear_existing_priority_areas(db, self.id)
         if project_dto.priority_areas:
-            await Project.clear_existing_priority_areas(db, self.id)
             for priority_area in project_dto.priority_areas:
                 pa = await PriorityArea.from_dict(priority_area, db)
                 # Link project and priority area in the database
diff --git a/backend/services/messaging/message_service.py b/backend/services/messaging/message_service.py
index b7ddb12a9a..8e22eafded 100644
--- a/backend/services/messaging/message_service.py
+++ b/backend/services/messaging/message_service.py
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ async def send_message_after_validation(
         """
         project_name = await db.fetch_val(
             project_name_query,
-            values={"project_id": project_id, "locale": project["default_locale"]},
+            values={"project_id": project_id, "locale": project.default_locale},
         )
         user = await UserService.get_user_by_id(mapped_by, db)
         text_template = get_txt_template(
diff --git a/backend/services/project_service.py b/backend/services/project_service.py
index 3e9f32519d..dc75524016 100644
--- a/backend/services/project_service.py
+++ b/backend/services/project_service.py
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ async def get_project_dto_for_mapper(
         if project.status == ProjectStatus.DRAFT.value:
             if not is_manager_permission:
                 is_allowed_user = False
-                raise HTTPException(status_code=400, detail="Unable to fetch project.")
+                raise ProjectServiceError("ProjectNotFetched- Unable to fetch project")
 
         # Private Projects - allowed_users, admins, org admins &
         # assigned teams (mappers, validators, project managers), authors permitted
diff --git a/backend/services/team_service.py b/backend/services/team_service.py
index b4801fa4c9..6e8fbac864 100644
--- a/backend/services/team_service.py
+++ b/backend/services/team_service.py
@@ -790,10 +790,17 @@ async def send_message_to_all_team_members(
         team_name: str,
         message_dto: MessageDTO,
         user_id: int,
-        db: Database,
+        db: Database = None,
     ):
+        if db is None:
+            print("inside....")
+            db = await acquire_connection()
+        print("Sending message to the team...")
+        print(db)
         team_members = await TeamService._get_active_team_members(team_id, db)
         user = await UserService.get_user_by_id(user_id, db)
+        print("Fetched User....")
+
         sender = user.username
         message_dto.message = (
             "A message from {}, manager of {} team:<br/><br/>{}".format(
@@ -804,6 +811,8 @@ async def send_message_to_all_team_members(
         )
         messages = []
         for team_member in team_members:
+            print("Looping teams.......")
+
             if team_member.user_id != user_id:
                 message = Message.from_dto(team_member.user_id, message_dto)
                 message.message_type = MessageType.TEAM_BROADCAST.value
diff --git a/backend/services/validator_service.py b/backend/services/validator_service.py
index 6d337d5809..c9abbf3ba5 100644
--- a/backend/services/validator_service.py
+++ b/backend/services/validator_service.py
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ async def lock_tasks_for_validation(
                     "ProjectNotPublished- Validation not allowed because: Project not published"
                 )
             elif error_reason == ValidatingNotAllowed.USER_ALREADY_HAS_TASK_LOCKED:
-                user_tasks = Task.get_locked_tasks_for_user(validation_dto.user_id)
+                user_tasks = Task.get_locked_tasks_for_user(validation_dto.user_id, db)
                 if set(user_tasks.locked_tasks) != set(validation_dto.task_ids):
                     raise ValidatorServiceError(
                         "UserAlreadyHasTaskLocked- User already has a task locked"