crm_contact_search fails when params have certain values in them

called crm_contact_search - once with params set to:

array( 'first_name' => 1,
'last_name' => 1,
'street_address' => 1,
'city' => 1,
'state' => 1,
'postal_code' => 1,
'geo_code_1' => 1,
'geo_code_2' => 1,
'note' => 1 );

the second time with params set to:

array( 'first_name' => 1,
'last_name' => 1,
'street_address' => 1,
'city' => 1,
'state' => 1,
'postal_code' => 1,
'geo_code_1' => 1,
'geo_code_2' => 1);

The first failed (note: the abscence of "note")