diff --git a/AuthorVersionPlugin.inc.php b/AuthorVersionPlugin.inc.php
index 59fc9ba..c2bb8a3 100755
--- a/AuthorVersionPlugin.inc.php
+++ b/AuthorVersionPlugin.inc.php
@@ -93,11 +93,11 @@ public function addWorkflowModifications($hookName, $params)
         $request = PKPApplication::get()->getRequest();
         $requestedPage = $templateMgr->getTemplateVars('requestedPage');
 
-        if($requestedPage == 'authorDashboard') {
+        if ($requestedPage == 'authorDashboard') {
             $templateMgr->registerFilter("output", array($this, 'addVersionJustificationButtonFilter'));
         }
 
-        if($requestedPage == 'workflow') {
+        if ($requestedPage == 'workflow') {
             $templateMgr->registerFilter("output", array($this, 'addVersionJustificationButtonFilter'));
             $templateMgr->registerFilter("output", array($this, 'addDeleteVersionButtonFilter'));
         }
diff --git a/api/v1/authorVersion/AuthorVersionHandler.inc.php b/api/v1/authorVersion/AuthorVersionHandler.inc.php
index 9cc83cf..cb547e1 100644
--- a/api/v1/authorVersion/AuthorVersionHandler.inc.php
+++ b/api/v1/authorVersion/AuthorVersionHandler.inc.php
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ public function submitVersion($slimRequest, $response, $args)
         $submission = $this->getSubmission($slimRequest);
         $publication = $submission->getLatestPublication();
 
-        if(!is_null($publication->getData('versionJustification'))
+        if (!is_null($publication->getData('versionJustification'))
             || $publication->getData('status') == STATUS_PUBLISHED
             || $publication->getData('version') == 1
         ) {
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ public function deleteVersion($slimRequest, $response, $args)
         $submission = $this->getSubmission($slimRequest);
         $publication = $submission->getLatestPublication();
 
-        if($publication->getData('status') == STATUS_PUBLISHED or $publication->getData('version') == 1) {
+        if ($publication->getData('status') == STATUS_PUBLISHED or $publication->getData('version') == 1) {
             return $response->withStatus(400);
         }
 
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ public function updateVersionJustification($slimRequest, $response, $args)
         $submission = $this->getSubmission($slimRequest);
         $publication = $submission->getLatestPublication();
 
-        if($publication->getData('status') == STATUS_PUBLISHED || $publication->getData('version') == 1) {
+        if ($publication->getData('status') == STATUS_PUBLISHED || $publication->getData('version') == 1) {
             return $response->withStatus(400);
         }
 
@@ -119,13 +119,21 @@ private function sendSubmittedVersionEmail($publication, $versionJustification)
 
     private function sendDeletedVersionEmail($publication, $deletingJustification)
     {
+        if (empty($authors)) {
+            return;
+        }
+
         $request = $this->getRequest();
         $context = $request->getContext();
-
         $emailTemplate = 'DELETED_VERSION_NOTIFICATION';
-        $primaryAuthor = $publication->getPrimaryAuthor();
+        $recipientAuthor = $publication->getPrimaryAuthor();
+
+        if (!$recipientAuthor) {
+            $recipientAuthor = $publication->getData('authors')[0];
+        }
+
         $recipients = [
-            ['email' => $primaryAuthor->getData('email'), 'name' => $primaryAuthor->getFullName()]
+            ['email' => $recipientAuthor->getData('email'), 'name' => $recipientAuthor->getFullName()]
         ];
 
         $params = [
@@ -145,7 +153,7 @@ private function sendEmailTemplate(string $templateName, array $recipients, arra
         $email = new MailTemplate($templateName, null, $context, false);
         $email->setFrom($context->getData('contactEmail'), $context->getData('contactName'));
 
-        foreach($recipients as $recipient) {
+        foreach ($recipients as $recipient) {
             $email->addRecipient($recipient['email'], $recipient['name']);
         }
 
@@ -171,7 +179,7 @@ private function getManagersAssigned($publication): array
         while ($assignment = $allAssignments->next()) {
             $userId = $assignment->getUserId();
 
-            if($this->userIsManager($userId)) {
+            if ($this->userIsManager($userId)) {
                 $manager = $userDao->getById($userId);
                 $managers[] = [
                     'email' => $manager->getEmail(),
@@ -189,8 +197,8 @@ private function userIsManager($userId): bool
         $userGroupsOfUser = $userGroupDao->getByUserId($userId);
         $managerGroupName = 'preprint server manager';
 
-        while($userGroup = $userGroupsOfUser->next()) {
-            if(strtolower($userGroup->getName('en_US')) == $managerGroupName) {
+        while ($userGroup = $userGroupsOfUser->next()) {
+            if (strtolower($userGroup->getName('en_US')) == $managerGroupName) {
                 return true;
             }
         }
diff --git a/classes/services/queryBuilders/AuthorVersionQueryBuilder.inc.php b/classes/services/queryBuilders/AuthorVersionQueryBuilder.inc.php
index 01cc3ae..14be4cc 100644
--- a/classes/services/queryBuilders/AuthorVersionQueryBuilder.inc.php
+++ b/classes/services/queryBuilders/AuthorVersionQueryBuilder.inc.php
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ public function appGet($q)
                     ->where('setting_name', '=', 'versionJustification');
             };
 
-            if($this->submittedVersion) {
+            if ($this->submittedVersion) {
                 $q->whereIn('nvp.publication_id', $submittedVersionSubQuery);
             } else {
                 $q->whereNotIn('nvp.publication_id', $submittedVersionSubQuery);
diff --git a/index.php b/index.php
index 9352ee6..4d80171 100755
--- a/index.php
+++ b/index.php
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 <?php
+
 /**
  * @defgroup plugins_generic_authorVersion
  */
diff --git a/version.xml b/version.xml
index 2e43cb8..7fff64e 100755
--- a/version.xml
+++ b/version.xml
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@
 <version>
 	<application>authorVersion</application>
 	<type>plugins.generic</type>
-	<release>1.5.4.0</release>
-	<date>2024-08-12</date>
+	<release>1.5.5.0</release>
+	<date>2025-01-20</date>
 	<lazy-load>1</lazy-load>
 	<class>AuthorVersionPlugin</class>
 </version>