createReturnAndItemOrAdjustment service error: In field [description] less-than (<) and greater-than (>) symbols are not allowed

[Christian Carlow]

This error occurred when trying to import legacy data into OFBiz by 
calling service createReturnAndItemOrAdjustment:
"In field [description] less-than (<) and greater-than (>) symbols are 
not allowed"

Is there an easy way to resolve this error?  The same descriptions were 
imported fine when the storeOrder service was called.