var response = RunTaskWithTimeout<ReturnType>(

        (Func<ReturnType>)delegate { return SomeMethod(someInput); }, );

    /// <summary>

    /// Generic method to run a task on a background thread with a specific timeout, if the task fails,

    /// notifies a user

    /// </summary>

    /// <typeparam name="T">Return type of function</typeparam>

    /// <param name="TaskAction">Function delegate for task to perform</param>

    /// <param name="TimeoutSeconds">Time to allow before task times out</param>

    /// <returns></returns>

    private T RunTaskWithTimeout<T>(Func<T> TaskAction, int TimeoutSeconds)

    {

        Task<T> backgroundTask;

        try

        {

            backgroundTask = Task.Factory.StartNew(TaskAction);

            backgroundTask.Wait(new TimeSpan(, , TimeoutSeconds));

        }

        catch (AggregateException ex)

        {

            // task failed

            var failMessage = ex.Flatten().InnerException.Message);

            return default(T);

        }

        catch (Exception ex)

        {

            // task failed

            var failMessage = ex.Message;

            return default(T);

        }

        if (!backgroundTask.IsCompleted)

        {

            // task timed out

            return default(T);

        }

        // task succeeded

        return backgroundTask.Result;

    }