I've been talking to Bonnie on this one, because I didn't have an answer beyond a workaround. We were curious what the variable was being used for, since you mentioned you're using some type of grid. However, if you're using a datetime picker, then that might affect what you do, since a datetime picker can't use a null date.
At any rate, the only workaround I can think of is to come up with a 'fake date' in the past, one that would never normally be assigned.
You can use this fake date as a comparison in subsequent lines of code, like whether to display something, whether to assign a stored procedure parameter, etc.
If either bonnie or myself comes up with something better, we'll post something, but for now, using a fake date is all we can really think of.
Kevin