public void validate(Visit visit, Errors errors) { String description = visit.getDescription(); String vet1 = visit.getVet(); String vet2 = visit.getVet2(); // description validation if (!StringUtils.hasLength(description)) { errors.rejectValue("description", "required", "required"); } Date date = new Date(); DateTime dt = new DateTime(date); // date validation if (visit.getDate() == null) { errors.rejectValue("date", "required", "required"); } if (visit.getDate().plusDays(1).compareTo(dt) < 0) { errors.rejectValue("date", "required", "future date required"); } if (vet2.compareTo(vet1) == 0) { errors.rejectValue("vet2", "Must be different", "Must be different"); } }