This test will pass also if the exception is not thrown (`fail()` is missing). WDYT about doing it like this:

    @Rule
    public ExpectedException thrown= ExpectedException.none();
    
    @Test
    public void myTest() {
        thrown.expect( IllegalArgumentException.class );
        thrown.expectMessage( "HSEARCH000179" );

        IndexedTypeDescriptor typeDescriptor = ...;
        typeDescriptor.getProperty( null );
    }

This will raise a failure in case the exception isn't thrown.