snippet.rb

        def contact_details=(contacts)
          return if contacts.nil?

          contacts = contacts.values if contacts.kind_of? Hash
          self.class.transaction do

            phone_numbers.destroy_all
            email_addresses.destroy_all

            contacts.each do |contact|
              value = contact[:value]
              next if value.empty?

              type = contact[:type]
              display_name = contact[:type].split[0]

              begin

                case type
                when /email/i
                  email_type = EmailType.find_by_display_name(display_name)
                  email_addresses.build(:address => value, :email_type => email_type)

                when /phone|fax/i
                  phone_type = PhoneNumberType.find_by_display_name(display_name)
                  phone_numbers.build(:number => value, :phone_number_type => phone_type)

                else
                  raise ArgumentError, "Unrecognized contact type #{type}, updating with value '#{value}'"

                end
                
              rescue ArgumentError => error
                RAILS_DEFAULT_LOGGER.warn error.message
              end
              
            end

            (email_addresses + phone_numbers).each do |contact|
              begin                
                contact.save!                
              rescue ActiveRecord::RecordInvalid => error
                
                if error.record.is_a?(EmailAddress)
                  errors.add :base, error.record.errors[:address]
                elsif error.record.is_a?(PhoneNumber)
                  errors.add :base, error.record.errors[:number]
                end
                
              end

            end
                                
          end
          
        end