Private Function LoadControlProperties(ByVal serializedProperties As String) As ICollection

    Dim controlProperties As ICollection = Nothing

    ' Create an ObjectStateFormatter to deserialize the properties.
    Dim formatter As New ObjectStateFormatter()

    Try
        ' Call the Deserialize method.
        controlProperties = CType(formatter.Deserialize(serializedProperties), ArrayList)
    Catch e As HttpException
        Dim vse As ViewStateException
        Dim logMessage As String

        vse = e.InnerException

        logMessage = "ViewStateException. Path: " + vse.Path + Environment.NewLine
        logMessage += "PersistedState: " + vse.PersistedState + Environment.NewLine
        logMessage += "Referer: " + vse.Referer + Environment.NewLine
        logMessage += "UserAgent: " + vse.UserAgent + Environment.NewLine

        LogEvent(logMessage)

        If (vse.IsConnected) Then
            HttpContext.Current.Response.Redirect("ErrorPage.aspx")
        Else
            Throw e
        End If
    End Try
    Return controlProperties
End Function 'LoadControlProperties