Lazyload error with offset().top in IE8

Lazyload error with offset().top in IE8

I am finding that my lazyload call for images in a .Net GridView generated table of images is triggering an error: 
'offset().top' is null or not an object.

This does not occur in Firefox or Chrome.  

I am using jquery-1.2.6-vsdoc.js and lazyload 1.5.  Per instructions for lazyload I cannot upgrade my jquery bc lazyload breaks the plugin.

I've tried modding the lazyload to ignore the call if offset() is not defined by wrapping it in a try/catch, but it results in no lazy loading occurring at all.

Suggestions?