focusFirstItem was no longer being overridden here, this function has proven not needed, thus.

indra/newview/llimpanel.cpp

@@ -1576,17 +1576,6 @@ const bool LLFloaterIMPanel::isModerator(const LLUUID& speaker_id)
 	return false;
 }
 
-BOOL LLFloaterIMPanel::focusFirstItem(BOOL prefer_text_fields, BOOL focus_flash )
-{
-	if (getVisible() && mInputEditor->getVisible())
-	{
-		setInputFocus(true);
-		return TRUE;
-	}
-
-	return LLUICtrl::focusFirstItem(prefer_text_fields, focus_flash);
-}
-
 void LLFloaterIMPanel::onFocusReceived()
 {
 	mNumUnreadMessages = 0;

indra/newview/llimpanel.h

@@ -94,8 +94,6 @@ public:
 						   void *cargo_data, EAcceptance *accept,
 						   std::string& tooltip_msg);
 
-	BOOL    focusFirstItem(BOOL prefer_text_fields = FALSE, BOOL focus_flash = TRUE );
-
 	void            onFocusReceived();
 	void			onInputEditorFocusReceived();
 	void			onInputEditorKeystroke(LLLineEditor* caller);