private String createUser(
     final Map<String, String> propertiesReadFromClient, final String userName) {
   final String email = propertiesReadFromClient.get(EMAIL_KEY);
   final String hashedPassword = propertiesReadFromClient.get(HASHED_PASSWORD_KEY);
   final DBUserController controller = new DBUserController();
   final String error = controller.validate(userName, email, hashedPassword);
   if (error != null) {
     return error;
   }
   try {
     controller.createUser(userName, email, hashedPassword, false);
     return null;
   } catch (final IllegalStateException ise) {
     return ise.getMessage();
   }
 }