Replace try/catch with assertj

Replaced try/catch blocks with assertj assertions in apex-pdp. Last
batch of changes

Issue-ID: POLICY-2451
Change-Id: I39bd02fdbd8389818dcf1b786189c1e344ddcea5
Signed-off-by: waynedunican <wayne.dunican@est.tech>

12 files changed, 1006 insertions, 1475 deletions

diff --git a/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/engdep/EngDepMessageListenerTest.java b/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/engdep/EngDepMessageListenerTest.java
index d31a9fa37..079be6bd2 100644
--- a/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/engdep/EngDepMessageListenerTest.java
+++ b/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/engdep/EngDepMessageListenerTest.java
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 /*-
  * ============LICENSE_START=======================================================
  *  Copyright (C) 2018 Ericsson. All rights reserved.
+ *  Modifications Copyright (C) 2020 Nordix Foundation
  * ================================================================================
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -20,9 +21,9 @@
 
 package org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.engdep;
 
+import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThatThrownBy;
 import static org.awaitility.Awaitility.await;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
-import static org.junit.Assert.fail;
 
 import java.net.InetSocketAddress;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
@@ -75,13 +76,8 @@ public class EngDepMessageListenerTest {
         EngDepMessageListener listener = new EngDepMessageListener(dummyEngineService);
         listener.startProcessorThread();
 
-        try {
-            listener.onMessage("bad string message");
-            fail("test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (Exception uoe) {
-            assertEquals("String messages are not supported on the EngDep protocol", uoe.getMessage());
-        }
-
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> listener.onMessage("bad string message"))
+            .hasMessage("String messages are not supported on the EngDep protocol");
         List<Message> messageList = new ArrayList<>();
         messageList.add(new StartEngine(new AxArtifactKey("Start:0.0.1")));
         listener.onMessage(new MessageBlock<>(messageList, webSocketMock));
@@ -131,40 +127,36 @@ public class EngDepMessageListenerTest {
         await().until(messageQueue::isEmpty);
         assertEquals("UpdateModel:0.0.1", dummyEngineService.getUpdateModelKey().getId());
 
-        try {
-            messageList.clear();
-            messageList.add(new Response(new AxArtifactKey("UpdateModel:0.0.1"), false,
-                            new GetEngineInfo(new AxArtifactKey("EngineInfo:0.0.1"))));
-            listener.onMessage(new MessageBlock<>(messageList, webSocketMock));
-            await().until(messageQueue::isEmpty);
-            assertEquals("UpdateModel:0.0.1", dummyEngineService.getUpdateModelKey().getId());
-
-            messageList.clear();
-            Message badMessage0 = new DummyMessage(null, null);
-            messageList.add(badMessage0);
-            listener.onMessage(new MessageBlock<>(messageList, webSocketMock));
-            await().until(messageQueue::isEmpty);
-
-            messageList.clear();
-            Message badMessage1 = new DummyMessage(new DummyAction(null), null);
-            messageList.add(badMessage1);
-            listener.onMessage(new MessageBlock<>(messageList, webSocketMock));
-            await().until(messageQueue::isEmpty);
-
-            messageList.clear();
-            Message badMessage2 = new DummyMessage(new DummyAction("throw exception"), null);
-            messageList.add(badMessage2);
-            listener.onMessage(new MessageBlock<>(messageList, webSocketMock));
-            await().until(messageQueue::isEmpty);
-
-            messageList.clear();
-            Mockito.doReturn(false).when(webSocketMock).isOpen();
-            messageList.add(new StartEngine(new AxArtifactKey("Start:0.0.1")));
-            listener.onMessage(new MessageBlock<>(messageList, webSocketMock));
-            await().until(messageQueue::isEmpty);
-        } catch (Exception e) {
-            fail("test should not throw exceptions on bad messages");
-        }
+        messageList.clear();
+        messageList.add(new Response(new AxArtifactKey("UpdateModel:0.0.1"), false,
+                        new GetEngineInfo(new AxArtifactKey("EngineInfo:0.0.1"))));
+        listener.onMessage(new MessageBlock<>(messageList, webSocketMock));
+        await().until(messageQueue::isEmpty);
+        assertEquals("UpdateModel:0.0.1", dummyEngineService.getUpdateModelKey().getId());
+        messageList.clear();
+        Message badMessage0 = new DummyMessage(null, null);
+        messageList.add(badMessage0);
+        listener.onMessage(new MessageBlock<>(messageList, webSocketMock));
+        await().until(messageQueue::isEmpty);
+
+        messageList.clear();
+        Message badMessage1 = new DummyMessage(new DummyAction(null), null);
+        messageList.add(badMessage1);
+        listener.onMessage(new MessageBlock<>(messageList, webSocketMock));
+        await().until(messageQueue::isEmpty);
+
+        messageList.clear();
+        Message badMessage2 = new DummyMessage(new DummyAction("throw exception"), null);
+        messageList.add(badMessage2);
+        listener.onMessage(new MessageBlock<>(messageList, webSocketMock));
+        await().until(messageQueue::isEmpty);
+
+        messageList.clear();
+        Mockito.doReturn(false).when(webSocketMock).isOpen();
+        messageList.add(new StartEngine(new AxArtifactKey("Start:0.0.1")));
+        listener.onMessage(new MessageBlock<>(messageList, webSocketMock));
+        await().until(messageQueue::isEmpty);
+
         listener.stopProcessorThreads();
     }
 }
diff --git a/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/event/JsonEventConverterTest.java b/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/event/JsonEventConverterTest.java
index 99b2654ab..ceadc4aae 100644
--- a/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/event/JsonEventConverterTest.java
+++ b/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/event/JsonEventConverterTest.java
@@ -1,27 +1,27 @@
 /*-
  * ============LICENSE_START=======================================================
  *  Copyright (C) 2018 Ericsson. All rights reserved.
+ *  Modifications Copyright (C) 2020 Nordix Foundation
  * ================================================================================
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
  * You may obtain a copy of the License at
- * 
+ *
  *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
- * 
+ *
  * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
  * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
  * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
  * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
  * limitations under the License.
- * 
+ *
  * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
  * ============LICENSE_END=========================================================
  */
 
 package org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.event;
 
-import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
-import static org.junit.Assert.fail;
+import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThatThrownBy;
 
 import org.junit.Test;
 import org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.event.impl.jsonprotocolplugin.Apex2JsonEventConverter;
@@ -37,69 +37,27 @@ public class JsonEventConverterTest {
     public void testJsonEventConverter() {
         Apex2JsonEventConverter converter = new Apex2JsonEventConverter();
 
-        try {
-            converter.init(null);
-            fail("test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (Exception ie) {
-            assertEquals("specified consumer properties are not applicable to the JSON event protocol",
-                            ie.getMessage());
-        }
-
-        try {
-            converter.init(new EventProtocolParameters() {
-            });
-            fail("test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (Exception ie) {
-            assertEquals("specified consumer properties are not applicable to the JSON event protocol",
-                            ie.getMessage());
-        }
-
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> converter.init(null))
+            .hasMessage("specified consumer properties are not applicable to the JSON event protocol");
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> converter.init(new EventProtocolParameters() {}))
+            .hasMessage("specified consumer properties are not applicable to the JSON event protocol");
         JsonEventProtocolParameters pars = new JsonEventProtocolParameters();
         converter.init(pars);
 
-        try {
-            converter.toApexEvent(null, null);
-            fail("test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (Exception tae) {
-            assertEquals("event processing failed, event is null", tae.getMessage());
-        }
-
-        try {
-            converter.toApexEvent(null, 1);
-            fail("test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (Exception tae) {
-            assertEquals("error converting event \"1\" to a string", tae.getMessage());
-        }
-
-        try {
-            converter.toApexEvent(null, "[{\"aKey\": 1},{\"aKey\": 2}]");
-            fail("test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (Exception tae) {
-            assertEquals("Failed to unmarshal JSON event: event received without mandatory parameter \"name\" "
-                            + "on configuration or on event, event=[{\"aKey\": 1},{\"aKey\": 2}]", tae.getMessage());
-        }
-
-        try {
-            converter.toApexEvent(null, "[1,2,3]");
-            fail("test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (Exception tae) {
-            assertEquals("Failed to unmarshal JSON event: incoming event ([1,2,3]) is a JSON object array "
-                            + "containing an invalid object 1.0, event=[1,2,3]", tae.getMessage());
-        }
-
-        try {
-            converter.fromApexEvent(null);
-            fail("test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (Exception tae) {
-            assertEquals("event processing failed, Apex event is null", tae.getMessage());
-        }
-
-        try {
-            converter.fromApexEvent(new ApexEvent("Event", "0.0.1", "a.name.space", "here", "there"));
-            fail("test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (Exception tae) {
-            assertEquals("Model for org.onap.policy.apex.model.eventmodel.concepts.AxEvents not found in model service",
-                            tae.getMessage());
-        }
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> converter.toApexEvent(null, null))
+            .hasMessage("event processing failed, event is null");
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> converter.toApexEvent(null, 1))
+            .hasMessage("error converting event \"1\" to a string");
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> converter.toApexEvent(null, "[{\"aKey\": 1},{\"aKey\": 2}]"))
+            .hasMessage("Failed to unmarshal JSON event: event received without mandatory parameter \"name\" "
+                            + "on configuration or on event, event=[{\"aKey\": 1},{\"aKey\": 2}]");
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> converter.toApexEvent(null, "[1,2,3]"))
+            .hasMessage("Failed to unmarshal JSON event: incoming event ([1,2,3]) is a JSON object array "
+                    + "containing an invalid object 1.0, event=[1,2,3]");
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> converter.fromApexEvent(null))
+            .hasMessage("event processing failed, Apex event is null");
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> converter.fromApexEvent(new ApexEvent("Event", "0.0.1", "a.name.space",
+                "here", "there")))
+            .hasMessage("Model for org.onap.policy.apex.model.eventmodel.concepts.AxEvents not found in model service");
     }
 }
diff --git a/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/event/JsonEventHandlerForPojoTest.java b/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/event/JsonEventHandlerForPojoTest.java
index b21f41190..de84acca1 100644
--- a/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/event/JsonEventHandlerForPojoTest.java
+++ b/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/event/JsonEventHandlerForPojoTest.java
@@ -21,9 +21,9 @@
 
 package org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.event;
 
+import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThatThrownBy;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertNotNull;
-import static org.junit.Assert.fail;
 
 import java.io.ByteArrayInputStream;
 import java.io.IOException;
@@ -216,35 +216,16 @@ public class JsonEventHandlerForPojoTest {
 
         logger.debug("input event\n" + apexEventJsonStringIn);
 
-        try {
-            jsonEventConverter.toApexEvent("PojoEvent", apexEventJsonStringIn);
-            fail("test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (Exception tae) {
-            assertEquals(
-                    "Failed to unmarshal JSON event: error parsing PojoEvent:0.0.1 event from Json. "
-                            + "Field BAD_POJO_PAR not found on POJO event definition.",
-                    tae.getMessage().substring(0, 133));
-        }
-
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> jsonEventConverter.toApexEvent("PojoEvent", apexEventJsonStringIn))
+            .hasMessageContaining("Failed to unmarshal JSON event: error parsing PojoEvent:0.0.1 event from Json. "
+                            + "Field BAD_POJO_PAR not found on POJO event definition.");
         pars.setPojoField("POJO_PAR");
-        try {
-            jsonEventConverter.toApexEvent("PojoNoFieldEvent", apexEventJsonStringIn);
-            fail("test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (Exception tae) {
-            assertEquals(
-                    "Failed to unmarshal JSON event: error parsing PojoNoFieldEvent:0.0.1 event from Json, "
-                            + "Field POJO_PAR not found, no fields defined on event.",
-                    tae.getMessage().substring(0, 139));
-        }
-
-        try {
-            jsonEventConverter.toApexEvent("PojoTooManyFieldsEvent", apexEventJsonStringIn);
-            fail("test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (Exception tae) {
-            assertEquals(
-                    "Failed to unmarshal JSON event: error parsing PojoTooManyFieldsEvent:0.0.1 event from Json, "
-                            + "Field POJO_PAR, one and only one field may be defined on a POJO event definition.",
-                    tae.getMessage().substring(0, 173));
-        }
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> jsonEventConverter.toApexEvent("PojoNoFieldEvent", apexEventJsonStringIn))
+            .hasMessageContaining("Failed to unmarshal JSON event: error parsing PojoNoFieldEvent:0.0.1 "
+                            + "event from Json, Field POJO_PAR not found, no fields defined on event.");
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> jsonEventConverter.toApexEvent("PojoTooManyFieldsEvent", apexEventJsonStringIn))
+            .hasMessageContaining("Failed to unmarshal JSON event: error parsing PojoTooManyFieldsEvent:0.0.1"
+                            + " event from Json, Field POJO_PAR, one and only one field may be defined on a "
+                            + "POJO event definition.");
     }
 }
diff --git a/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/event/JsonEventHandlerTest.java b/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/event/JsonEventHandlerTest.java
index b65ebd3dc..241c92978 100644
--- a/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/event/JsonEventHandlerTest.java
+++ b/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/event/JsonEventHandlerTest.java
@@ -21,11 +21,11 @@
 
 package org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.event;
 
+import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThatThrownBy;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertNotNull;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertNull;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertTrue;
-import static org.junit.Assert.fail;
 
 import java.io.ByteArrayInputStream;
 import java.io.IOException;
@@ -103,35 +103,30 @@ public class JsonEventHandlerTest {
      */
     @Test
     public void testJsontoApexEvent() throws ApexException {
-        try {
-            final Apex2JsonEventConverter jsonEventConverter = new Apex2JsonEventConverter();
-            assertNotNull(jsonEventConverter);
-            jsonEventConverter.init(new JsonEventProtocolParameters());
+        final Apex2JsonEventConverter jsonEventConverter = new Apex2JsonEventConverter();
+        assertNotNull(jsonEventConverter);
+        jsonEventConverter.init(new JsonEventProtocolParameters());
 
-            final String apexEventJsonStringIn = SupportJsonEventGenerator.jsonEvent();
+        final String apexEventJsonStringIn = SupportJsonEventGenerator.jsonEvent();
 
-            logger.debug("input event\n" + apexEventJsonStringIn);
+        logger.debug("input event\n" + apexEventJsonStringIn);
 
-            final List<ApexEvent> apexEventList = jsonEventConverter.toApexEvent(null, apexEventJsonStringIn);
-            for (final ApexEvent apexEvent : apexEventList) {
-                assertNotNull(apexEvent);
+        final List<ApexEvent> apexEventList = jsonEventConverter.toApexEvent(null, apexEventJsonStringIn);
+        for (final ApexEvent apexEvent : apexEventList) {
+            assertNotNull(apexEvent);
 
-                logger.debug(apexEvent.toString());
+            logger.debug(apexEvent.toString());
 
-                assertEquals("BasicEvent", apexEvent.getName());
-                assertEquals("0.0.1", apexEvent.getVersion());
-                assertEquals("org.onap.policy.apex.events", apexEvent.getNameSpace());
-                assertEquals("test", apexEvent.getSource());
-                assertEquals("apex", apexEvent.getTarget());
-                assertEquals(12345, apexEvent.get("intPar"));
-
-                final Object testMatchCaseSelected = apexEvent.get("TestMatchCaseSelected");
-                assertNull(testMatchCaseSelected);
-            }
-        } catch (final Exception e) {
-            e.printStackTrace();
-            throw new ApexException("Exception reading Apex event JSON file", e);
+            assertEquals("BasicEvent", apexEvent.getName());
+            assertEquals("0.0.1", apexEvent.getVersion());
+            assertEquals("org.onap.policy.apex.events", apexEvent.getNameSpace());
+            assertEquals("test", apexEvent.getSource());
+            assertEquals("apex", apexEvent.getTarget());
+            assertEquals(12345, apexEvent.get("intPar"));
+            final Object testMatchCaseSelected = apexEvent.get("TestMatchCaseSelected");
+            assertNull(testMatchCaseSelected);
         }
+
     }
 
     /**
@@ -141,142 +136,96 @@ public class JsonEventHandlerTest {
      */
     @Test
     public void testJsontoApexBadEvent() throws ApexException {
-        try {
-            final Apex2JsonEventConverter jsonEventConverter = new Apex2JsonEventConverter();
-            assertNotNull(jsonEventConverter);
-            jsonEventConverter.init(new JsonEventProtocolParameters());
+        final Apex2JsonEventConverter jsonEventConverter = new Apex2JsonEventConverter();
+        assertNotNull(jsonEventConverter);
+        jsonEventConverter.init(new JsonEventProtocolParameters());
 
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> {
+            String apexEventJsonStringIn = null;
+            apexEventJsonStringIn = SupportJsonEventGenerator.jsonEventNoName();
+            jsonEventConverter.toApexEvent(null, apexEventJsonStringIn);
+        }).hasMessageContaining("Failed to unmarshal JSON event: event received without "
+                + "mandatory parameter \"name\" ");
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> {
+            String apexEventJsonStringIn = null;
+            apexEventJsonStringIn = SupportJsonEventGenerator.jsonEventBadName();
+            jsonEventConverter.toApexEvent(null, apexEventJsonStringIn);
+        }).hasMessageContaining("Failed to unmarshal JSON event: field \"name\" with value \"%%%%\" is invalid");
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> {
+            String apexEventJsonStringIn = null;
+            apexEventJsonStringIn = SupportJsonEventGenerator.jsonEventNoExName();
+            jsonEventConverter.toApexEvent(null, apexEventJsonStringIn);
+        }).hasMessageContaining("Failed to unmarshal JSON event: an event definition for an event named \"I_DONT_EXI");
+        String apexEventJsonStringIn1 = null;
+        apexEventJsonStringIn1 = SupportJsonEventGenerator.jsonEventNoVersion();
+        ApexEvent event = jsonEventConverter.toApexEvent(null, apexEventJsonStringIn1).get(0);
+        assertEquals("0.0.1", event.getVersion());
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> {
+            String apexEventJsonStringIn = null;
+            apexEventJsonStringIn = SupportJsonEventGenerator.jsonEventBadVersion();
+            jsonEventConverter.toApexEvent(null, apexEventJsonStringIn);
+        }).hasMessageContaining("Failed to unmarshal JSON event: field \"version\" with value \"#####\" is invalid");
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> {
+            String apexEventJsonStringIn = null;
+            apexEventJsonStringIn = SupportJsonEventGenerator.jsonEventNoExVersion();
+            jsonEventConverter.toApexEvent(null, apexEventJsonStringIn);
+        }).hasMessageContaining("Failed to unmarshal JSON event: an event definition for an event named "
+                + "\"BasicEvent\" with version \"1.2.3\" not found in Apex model");
+        apexEventJsonStringIn1 = SupportJsonEventGenerator.jsonEventNoNamespace();
+        event = jsonEventConverter.toApexEvent(null, apexEventJsonStringIn1).get(0);
+        assertEquals("org.onap.policy.apex.events", event.getNameSpace());
+
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> {
+            String apexEventJsonStringIn = null;
+            apexEventJsonStringIn = SupportJsonEventGenerator.jsonEventBadNamespace();
+            jsonEventConverter.toApexEvent(null, apexEventJsonStringIn);
+        }).hasMessageContaining("Failed to unmarshal JSON event: " + "field \"nameSpace\" with value \"hello.&&&&\" "
+                + "is invalid");
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> {
+            String apexEventJsonStringIn = null;
+            apexEventJsonStringIn = SupportJsonEventGenerator.jsonEventNoExNamespace();
+            jsonEventConverter.toApexEvent(null, apexEventJsonStringIn);
+        }).hasMessageContaining("Failed to unmarshal JSON event: namespace \"pie.in.the.sky\" "
+                + "on event \"BasicEvent\" does not" + " match namespace \"org.onap.policy.apex.events\" "
+                + "for that event in the Apex model");
+        apexEventJsonStringIn1 = SupportJsonEventGenerator.jsonEventNoSource();
+        event = jsonEventConverter.toApexEvent(null, apexEventJsonStringIn1).get(0);
+        assertEquals("source", event.getSource());
+
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> {
+            String apexEventJsonStringIn = null;
+            apexEventJsonStringIn = SupportJsonEventGenerator.jsonEventBadSource();
+            jsonEventConverter.toApexEvent(null, apexEventJsonStringIn);
+        }).hasMessageContaining("Failed to unmarshal JSON event: field \"source\" with value \"%!@**@!\" is invalid");
+        apexEventJsonStringIn1 = SupportJsonEventGenerator.jsonEventNoTarget();
+        event = jsonEventConverter.toApexEvent(null, apexEventJsonStringIn1).get(0);
+        assertEquals("target", event.getTarget());
+
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> {
+            String apexEventJsonStringIn = null;
+            apexEventJsonStringIn = SupportJsonEventGenerator.jsonEventBadTarget();
+            jsonEventConverter.toApexEvent(null, apexEventJsonStringIn);
+        }).hasMessageContaining("Failed to unmarshal JSON event: field \"target\" with value \"KNIO(*S)A(S)D\" "
+                + "is invalid");
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> {
             String apexEventJsonStringIn = null;
-
-            try {
-                apexEventJsonStringIn = SupportJsonEventGenerator.jsonEventNoName();
-                jsonEventConverter.toApexEvent(null, apexEventJsonStringIn);
-                fail("Test should throw an exception here");
-            } catch (final ApexEventException e) {
-                assertEquals("Failed to unmarshal JSON event: event received without mandatory parameter \"name\" ",
-                        e.getMessage().substring(0, 82));
-            }
-
-            try {
-                apexEventJsonStringIn = SupportJsonEventGenerator.jsonEventBadName();
-                jsonEventConverter.toApexEvent(null, apexEventJsonStringIn);
-                fail("Test should throw an exception here");
-            } catch (final ApexEventException e) {
-                assertEquals("Failed to unmarshal JSON event: field \"name\" with value \"%%%%\" is invalid",
-                        e.getMessage().substring(0, 73));
-            }
-
-            try {
-                apexEventJsonStringIn = SupportJsonEventGenerator.jsonEventNoExName();
-                jsonEventConverter.toApexEvent(null, apexEventJsonStringIn);
-                fail("Test should throw an exception here");
-            } catch (final ApexEventException e) {
-                assertEquals("Failed to unmarshal JSON event: an event definition for an event named \"I_DONT_EXI",
-                        e.getMessage().substring(0, 82));
-            }
-
-            apexEventJsonStringIn = SupportJsonEventGenerator.jsonEventNoVersion();
-            ApexEvent event = jsonEventConverter.toApexEvent(null, apexEventJsonStringIn).get(0);
-            assertEquals("0.0.1", event.getVersion());
-
-            try {
-                apexEventJsonStringIn = SupportJsonEventGenerator.jsonEventBadVersion();
-                jsonEventConverter.toApexEvent(null, apexEventJsonStringIn);
-                fail("Test should throw an exception here");
-            } catch (final ApexEventException e) {
-                assertEquals("Failed to unmarshal JSON event: field \"version\" with value \"#####\" is invalid",
-                        e.getMessage().substring(0, 77));
-            }
-
-            try {
-                apexEventJsonStringIn = SupportJsonEventGenerator.jsonEventNoExVersion();
-                jsonEventConverter.toApexEvent(null, apexEventJsonStringIn);
-                fail("Test should throw an exception here");
-            } catch (final ApexEventException e) {
-                assertEquals(
-                        "Failed to unmarshal JSON event: an event definition for an event named "
-                                + "\"BasicEvent\" with version \"1.2.3\" not found in Apex model",
-                        e.getMessage().substring(0, 128));
-            }
-
-            apexEventJsonStringIn = SupportJsonEventGenerator.jsonEventNoNamespace();
-            event = jsonEventConverter.toApexEvent(null, apexEventJsonStringIn).get(0);
-            assertEquals("org.onap.policy.apex.events", event.getNameSpace());
-
-            try {
-                apexEventJsonStringIn = SupportJsonEventGenerator.jsonEventBadNamespace();
-                jsonEventConverter.toApexEvent(null, apexEventJsonStringIn);
-                fail("Test should throw an exception here");
-            } catch (final ApexEventException e) {
-                assertEquals(
-                        "Failed to unmarshal JSON event: " + "field \"nameSpace\" with value \"hello.&&&&\" is invalid",
-                        e.getMessage().substring(0, 84));
-            }
-
-            try {
-                apexEventJsonStringIn = SupportJsonEventGenerator.jsonEventNoExNamespace();
-                jsonEventConverter.toApexEvent(null, apexEventJsonStringIn);
-                fail("Test should throw an exception here");
-            } catch (final ApexEventException e) {
-                assertEquals("Failed to unmarshal JSON event: namespace \"pie.in.the.sky\" "
-                        + "on event \"BasicEvent\" does not" + " match namespace \"org.onap.policy.apex.events\" "
-                        + "for that event in the Apex model", e.getMessage().substring(0, 168));
-            }
-
-            apexEventJsonStringIn = SupportJsonEventGenerator.jsonEventNoSource();
-            event = jsonEventConverter.toApexEvent(null, apexEventJsonStringIn).get(0);
-            assertEquals("source", event.getSource());
-
-            try {
-                apexEventJsonStringIn = SupportJsonEventGenerator.jsonEventBadSource();
-                jsonEventConverter.toApexEvent(null, apexEventJsonStringIn);
-                fail("Test should throw an exception here");
-            } catch (final ApexEventException e) {
-                assertEquals("Failed to unmarshal JSON event: field \"source\" with value \"%!@**@!\" is invalid",
-                        e.getMessage().substring(0, 78));
-            }
-
-            apexEventJsonStringIn = SupportJsonEventGenerator.jsonEventNoTarget();
-            event = jsonEventConverter.toApexEvent(null, apexEventJsonStringIn).get(0);
-            assertEquals("target", event.getTarget());
-
-            try {
-                apexEventJsonStringIn = SupportJsonEventGenerator.jsonEventBadTarget();
-                jsonEventConverter.toApexEvent(null, apexEventJsonStringIn);
-                fail("Test should throw an exception here");
-            } catch (final ApexEventException e) {
-                assertEquals("Failed to unmarshal JSON event: field \"target\" with value \"KNIO(*S)A(S)D\" is invalid",
-                        e.getMessage().substring(0, 84));
-            }
-
-            try {
-                apexEventJsonStringIn = SupportJsonEventGenerator.jsonEventMissingFields();
-                jsonEventConverter.toApexEvent(null, apexEventJsonStringIn);
-                fail("Test should throw an exception here");
-            } catch (final ApexEventException e) {
-                assertEquals(
-                        "Failed to unmarshal JSON event: error parsing BasicEvent:0.0.1 "
-                                + "event from Json. Field \"intPar\" is missing, but is mandatory.",
-                        e.getMessage().substring(0, 124));
-            }
-
-            apexEventJsonStringIn = SupportJsonEventGenerator.jsonEventNullFields();
-            event = jsonEventConverter.toApexEvent(null, apexEventJsonStringIn).get(0);
-            assertEquals(null, event.get("TestSlogan"));
-            assertEquals(-1, event.get("intPar"));
-
-            // Set the missing fields as optional in the model
-            final AxEvent eventDefinition = ModelService.getModel(AxEvents.class).get("BasicEvent");
-            eventDefinition.getParameterMap().get("intPar").setOptional(true);
-
             apexEventJsonStringIn = SupportJsonEventGenerator.jsonEventMissingFields();
-            event = jsonEventConverter.toApexEvent(null, apexEventJsonStringIn).get(0);
-            assertEquals(null, event.get("TestSlogan"));
-            assertEquals(null, event.get("intPar"));
-        } catch (final Exception e) {
-            e.printStackTrace();
-            throw new ApexException("Exception reading Apex event JSON file", e);
-        }
+            jsonEventConverter.toApexEvent(null, apexEventJsonStringIn);
+        }).hasMessageContaining("Failed to unmarshal JSON event: error parsing BasicEvent:0.0.1 "
+               + "event from Json. Field \"intPar\" is missing, but is mandatory.");
+        apexEventJsonStringIn1 = SupportJsonEventGenerator.jsonEventNullFields();
+        event = jsonEventConverter.toApexEvent(null, apexEventJsonStringIn1).get(0);
+        assertEquals(null, event.get("TestSlogan"));
+        assertEquals(-1, event.get("intPar"));
+
+        // Set the missing fields as optional in the model
+        final AxEvent eventDefinition = ModelService.getModel(AxEvents.class).get("BasicEvent");
+        eventDefinition.getParameterMap().get("intPar").setOptional(true);
+
+        apexEventJsonStringIn1 = SupportJsonEventGenerator.jsonEventMissingFields();
+        event = jsonEventConverter.toApexEvent(null, apexEventJsonStringIn1).get(0);
+        assertEquals(null, event.get("TestSlogan"));
+        assertEquals(null, event.get("intPar"));
     }
 
     /**
@@ -286,31 +235,26 @@ public class JsonEventHandlerTest {
      */
     @Test
     public void testApexEventToJson() throws ApexException {
-        try {
-            final Apex2JsonEventConverter jsonEventConverter = new Apex2JsonEventConverter();
-            jsonEventConverter.init(new JsonEventProtocolParameters());
-            assertNotNull(jsonEventConverter);
+        final Apex2JsonEventConverter jsonEventConverter = new Apex2JsonEventConverter();
+        jsonEventConverter.init(new JsonEventProtocolParameters());
+        assertNotNull(jsonEventConverter);
 
-            final Map<String, Object> basicEventMap = new HashMap<String, Object>();
-            basicEventMap.put("intPar", 12345);
+        final Map<String, Object> basicEventMap = new HashMap<String, Object>();
+        basicEventMap.put("intPar", 12345);
 
-            final ApexEvent basicEvent =
-                    new ApexEvent("BasicEvent", "0.0.1", "org.onap.policy.apex.events", "test", "apex");
-            basicEvent.putAll(basicEventMap);
+        final ApexEvent basicEvent =
+               new ApexEvent("BasicEvent", "0.0.1", "org.onap.policy.apex.events", "test", "apex");
+        basicEvent.putAll(basicEventMap);
 
-            final String apexEvent0000JsonString = (String) jsonEventConverter.fromApexEvent(basicEvent);
+        final String apexEvent0000JsonString = (String) jsonEventConverter.fromApexEvent(basicEvent);
 
-            logger.debug(apexEvent0000JsonString);
+        logger.debug(apexEvent0000JsonString);
 
-            assertTrue(apexEvent0000JsonString.contains("\"name\": \"BasicEvent\""));
-            assertTrue(apexEvent0000JsonString.contains("\"version\": \"0.0.1\""));
-            assertTrue(apexEvent0000JsonString.contains("\"nameSpace\": \"org.onap.policy.apex.events\""));
-            assertTrue(apexEvent0000JsonString.contains("\"source\": \"test\""));
-            assertTrue(apexEvent0000JsonString.contains("\"target\": \"apex\""));
-            assertTrue(apexEvent0000JsonString.contains("\"intPar\": 12345"));
-        } catch (final Exception e) {
-            e.printStackTrace();
-            throw new ApexException("Exception reading Apex event JSON file", e);
-        }
+        assertTrue(apexEvent0000JsonString.contains("\"name\": \"BasicEvent\""));
+        assertTrue(apexEvent0000JsonString.contains("\"version\": \"0.0.1\""));
+        assertTrue(apexEvent0000JsonString.contains("\"nameSpace\": \"org.onap.policy.apex.events\""));
+        assertTrue(apexEvent0000JsonString.contains("\"source\": \"test\""));
+        assertTrue(apexEvent0000JsonString.contains("\"target\": \"apex\""));
+        assertTrue(apexEvent0000JsonString.contains("\"intPar\": 12345"));
     }
 }
diff --git a/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/main/ApexCommandLineArgumentsTest.java b/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/main/ApexCommandLineArgumentsTest.java
index 40375b1f6..09fbe91fe 100644
--- a/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/main/ApexCommandLineArgumentsTest.java
+++ b/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/main/ApexCommandLineArgumentsTest.java
@@ -1,28 +1,28 @@
 /*-
  * ============LICENSE_START=======================================================
  *  Copyright (C) 2016-2018 Ericsson. All rights reserved.
+ *  Modifications Copyright (C) 2020 Nordix Foundation
  * ================================================================================
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
  * You may obtain a copy of the License at
- * 
+ *
  *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
- * 
+ *
  * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
  * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
  * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
  * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
  * limitations under the License.
- * 
+ *
  * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
  * ============LICENSE_END=========================================================
  */
 
 package org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.main;
 
-import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
+import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThatThrownBy;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertTrue;
-import static org.junit.Assert.fail;
 
 import org.junit.After;
 import org.junit.Test;
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ import org.onap.policy.apex.model.basicmodel.concepts.ApexException;
 
 /**
  * Test Apex Command Line Arguments.
- * 
+ *
  * @author Liam Fallon (liam.fallon@ericsson.com)
  */
 public class ApexCommandLineArgumentsTest {
@@ -40,223 +40,138 @@ public class ApexCommandLineArgumentsTest {
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void testCommandLineArguments() {
+    public void testCommandLineArguments() throws ApexException {
         final ApexCommandLineArguments apexArguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments();
 
         final String[] args00 =
             { "" };
-        try {
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> {
             apexArguments.parse(args00);
             apexArguments.validate();
-            fail("Test should throw an exception here");
-        } catch (final ApexException e) {
-            assertEquals("Apex configuration file was not specified as an argument", e.getMessage());
-        }
-
+        }).hasMessage("Apex configuration file was not specified as an argument");
         final String[] args01 =
             { "-h" };
-        try {
-            final String result = apexArguments.parse(args01);
-            assertTrue(result.startsWith("usage: org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.main.ApexMain [options...]"));
-        } catch (final ApexException e) {
-            e.printStackTrace();
-            fail("Test should not throw an exception");
-        }
+
+        final String result = apexArguments.parse(args01);
+        assertTrue(result.startsWith("usage: org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.main.ApexMain [options...]"));
 
         final String[] args02 =
             { "-v" };
-        try {
-            final String result = apexArguments.parse(args02);
-            assertTrue(result.startsWith("Apex Adaptive Policy Engine"));
-        } catch (final ApexException e) {
-            e.printStackTrace();
-            fail("Test should not throw an exception");
-        }
+        final String result02 = apexArguments.parse(args02);
+        assertTrue(result02.startsWith("Apex Adaptive Policy Engine"));
 
         final String[] args03 =
             { "-v", "-h" };
-        try {
-            final String result = apexArguments.parse(args03);
-            assertTrue(result.startsWith("usage: org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.main.ApexMain [options...]"));
-        } catch (final ApexException e) {
-            e.printStackTrace();
-            fail("Test should not throw an exception");
-        }
+
+        final String result03 = apexArguments.parse(args03);
+        assertTrue(result03.startsWith("usage: org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.main.ApexMain [options...]"));
 
         final String[] args04 =
             { "-h", "-v" };
-        try {
-            final String result = apexArguments.parse(args04);
-            assertTrue(result.startsWith("usage: org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.main.ApexMain [options...]"));
-        } catch (final ApexException e) {
-            e.printStackTrace();
-            fail("Test should not throw an exception");
-        }
+
+        final String result04 = apexArguments.parse(args04);
+        assertTrue(result04.startsWith("usage: org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.main.ApexMain [options...]"));
 
         final String[] args05 =
             { "-a" };
-        try {
-            apexArguments.parse(args05);
-        } catch (final ApexException e) {
-            assertEquals("invalid command line arguments specified : Unrecognized option: -a", e.getMessage());
-        }
-
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> apexArguments.parse(args05))
+            .hasMessage("invalid command line arguments specified : Unrecognized option: -a");
         final String[] args06 =
             { "-c", "hello", "-m", "goodbye", "-h", "-v" };
-        try {
-            final String result = apexArguments.parse(args06);
-            assertTrue(result.startsWith("usage: org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.main.ApexMain [options...]"));
-        } catch (final ApexException e) {
-            assertEquals("invalid command line arguments specified : Unrecognized option: -a", e.getMessage());
-        }
+        final String result06 = apexArguments.parse(args06);
+        assertTrue(result06.startsWith("usage: org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.main.ApexMain [options...]"));
 
         final String[] args07 =
             { "-c", "hello", "-m", "goodbye", "-h", "aaa" };
-        try {
-            final String result = apexArguments.parse(args07);
-            assertTrue(result.startsWith("usage: org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.main.ApexMain [options...]"));
-        } catch (final ApexException e) {
-            assertEquals("too many command line arguments specified : [-c, hello, -m, goodbye, -h, aaa]",
-                            e.getMessage());
-        }
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> apexArguments.parse(args07))
+            .hasMessage("too many command line arguments specified : [-c, hello, -m, goodbye, -h, aaa]");
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void testCommandLineFileParameters() {
+    public void testCommandLineFileParameters() throws ApexException {
         final ApexCommandLineArguments apexArguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments();
 
         final String[] args00 =
             { "-c", "zooby" };
-        try {
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> {
             apexArguments.parse(args00);
             apexArguments.validate();
-            fail("Test should throw an exception here");
-        } catch (final ApexException e) {
-            assertEquals("Apex configuration file \"zooby\" does not exist", e.getMessage());
-        }
-
+        }).hasMessage("Apex configuration file \"zooby\" does not exist");
         final String[] args01 =
             { "-c" };
-        try {
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> {
             apexArguments.parse(args01);
             apexArguments.validate();
-            fail("Test should throw an exception here");
-        } catch (final ApexException e) {
-            assertEquals("invalid command line arguments specified : Missing argument for option: c", e.getMessage());
-        }
-
+        }).hasMessage("invalid command line arguments specified : Missing argument for option: c");
         final String[] args02 =
             { "-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/goodParams.json" };
-        try {
-            apexArguments.parse(args02);
-            apexArguments.validate();
-        } catch (final ApexException e) {
-            e.printStackTrace();
-            fail("Test should not throw an exception");
-        }
+        apexArguments.parse(args02);
+        apexArguments.validate();
 
         final String[] args03 =
             { "-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/goodParams.json", "-m", "zooby" };
-        try {
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> {
             apexArguments.parse(args03);
             apexArguments.validate();
-            fail("Test should throw an exception here");
-        } catch (final ApexException e) {
-            assertEquals("Apex model file \"zooby\" does not exist", e.getMessage());
-        }
-
+        }).hasMessage("Apex model file \"zooby\" does not exist");
         final String[] args04 =
             { "-m" };
-        try {
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> {
             apexArguments.parse(args04);
             apexArguments.validate();
-            fail("Test should throw an exception here");
-        } catch (final ApexException e) {
-            assertEquals("invalid command line arguments specified : Missing argument for option: m", e.getMessage());
-        }
-
+        }).hasMessage("invalid command line arguments specified : Missing argument for option: m");
         final String[] args05 =
             { "-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/goodParams.json", "-m" };
-        try {
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> {
             apexArguments.parse(args05);
             apexArguments.validate();
-            fail("Test should throw an exception here");
-        } catch (final ApexException e) {
-            assertEquals("invalid command line arguments specified : Missing argument for option: m", e.getMessage());
-        }
-
+        }).hasMessage("invalid command line arguments specified : Missing argument for option: m");
         final String[] args06 =
             { "-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/goodParams.json", "-m",
                 "src/test/resources/main/DummyModelFile.json" };
-        try {
-            apexArguments.parse(args06);
-            apexArguments.validate();
-        } catch (final ApexException e) {
-            e.printStackTrace();
-            fail("Test should not throw an exception");
-        }
+        apexArguments.parse(args06);
+        apexArguments.validate();
 
         final String[] args07 =
             { "-c", "parameters/goodParams.json", "-m", "main/DummyModelFile.json" };
-        try {
-            apexArguments.parse(args07);
-            apexArguments.validate();
-        } catch (final ApexException e) {
-            e.printStackTrace();
-            fail("Test should not throw an exception");
-        }
+
+        apexArguments.parse(args07);
+        apexArguments.validate();
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void testCommandLineRelativeRootParameters() {
+    public void testCommandLineRelativeRootParameters() throws ApexException {
         final ApexCommandLineArguments apexArguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments();
 
         final String[] args00 =
             { "-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/goodParams.json", "-rfr", "zooby" };
-        try {
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> {
             apexArguments.parse(args00);
             apexArguments.validate();
-            fail("Test should throw an exception here");
-        } catch (final ApexException e) {
-            assertTrue(e.getMessage().contains("zooby\" does not exist or is not a directory"));
-        }
-
+        }).hasMessageContaining("zooby\" does not exist or is not a directory");
         final String[] args01 =
             { "-rfr" };
-        try {
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> {
             apexArguments.parse(args01);
             apexArguments.validate();
-            fail("Test should throw an exception here");
-        } catch (final ApexException e) {
-            assertEquals("invalid command line arguments specified : Missing argument for option: rfr", e.getMessage());
-        }
-
+        }).hasMessage("invalid command line arguments specified : Missing argument for option: rfr");
         final String[] args02 =
             { "-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/goodParams.json", "-rfr", "pom.xml" };
-        try {
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> {
             apexArguments.parse(args02);
             apexArguments.validate();
-            fail("Test should throw an exception here");
-        } catch (final ApexException e) {
-            assertTrue(e.getMessage().contains("pom.xml\" does not exist or is not a directory"));
-        }
-
+        }).hasMessageContaining("pom.xml\" does not exist or is not a directory");
         final String[] args03 =
             { "-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/goodParams.json", "-rfr", "target" };
-        try {
-            apexArguments.parse(args03);
-            apexArguments.validate();
-        } catch (final ApexException e) {
-            fail("Test should not throw an exception here");
-        }
+
+        apexArguments.parse(args03);
+        apexArguments.validate();
 
         final String[] args04 =
             { "-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/goodParamsRelative.json", "-rfr", "src/test/resources" };
-        try {
-            apexArguments.parse(args04);
-            apexArguments.validate();
-        } catch (final ApexException e) {
-            fail("Test should not throw an exception here");
-        }
+
+        apexArguments.parse(args04);
+        apexArguments.validate();
+
     }
 }
diff --git a/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/ApexParametersTest.java b/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/ApexParametersTest.java
index ff97eaec2..330de42dd 100644
--- a/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/ApexParametersTest.java
+++ b/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/ApexParametersTest.java
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 
 package org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.parameters;
 
+import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThatThrownBy;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertFalse;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertNotNull;
@@ -44,16 +45,13 @@ public class ApexParametersTest {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/javaPropertiesOK.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            ApexParameters parameters = new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            assertTrue(parameters.checkJavaPropertiesSet());
-            assertEquals("property0", parameters.getJavaProperties()[0][0]);
-            assertEquals("property0Value", parameters.getJavaProperties()[0][1]);
-            assertEquals("property1", parameters.getJavaProperties()[1][0]);
-            assertEquals("property1Value", parameters.getJavaProperties()[1][1]);
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            fail("This test should not throw an exception");
-        }
+        ApexParameters parameters = new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
+        assertTrue(parameters.checkJavaPropertiesSet());
+        assertEquals("property0", parameters.getJavaProperties()[0][0]);
+        assertEquals("property0Value", parameters.getJavaProperties()[0][1]);
+        assertEquals("property1", parameters.getJavaProperties()[1][0]);
+        assertEquals("property1Value", parameters.getJavaProperties()[1][1]);
+
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -61,12 +59,9 @@ public class ApexParametersTest {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/javaPropertiesEmpty.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            ApexParameters parameters = new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            assertFalse(parameters.checkJavaPropertiesSet());
-        } catch (final ParameterException pe) {
-            fail("This test should not throw an exception");
-        }
+        ApexParameters parameters = new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
+        assertFalse(parameters.checkJavaPropertiesSet());
+
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -74,15 +69,11 @@ public class ApexParametersTest {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/javaPropertiesBad.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ParameterException pe) {
-            assertTrue(pe.getMessage().contains("java properties array entries must have one key and one value"));
-            assertTrue(pe.getMessage().contains("java properties key is null or blank"));
-            assertTrue(pe.getMessage().contains("java properties value is null or blank"));
-            assertTrue(pe.getMessage().contains("java properties array entry is null"));
-        }
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments))
+            .hasMessageContaining("java properties array entries must have one key and one value")
+            .hasMessageContaining("java properties key is null or blank")
+            .hasMessageContaining("java properties value is null or blank")
+            .hasMessageContaining("java properties array entry is null");
     }
 
     @Test
diff --git a/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/ContextParameterTests.java b/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/ContextParameterTests.java
index f6d39f029..018fda668 100644
--- a/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/ContextParameterTests.java
+++ b/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/ContextParameterTests.java
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 
 package org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.parameters;
 
+import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThatThrownBy;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
 import static org.junit.Assert.fail;
 
@@ -43,14 +44,10 @@ public class ContextParameterTests {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/serviceContextNoParams.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            assertEquals("error reading parameters from \"src/test/resources/parameters/serviceContextNoParams.json\"\n"
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments))
+            .hasMessage("error reading parameters from \"src/test/resources/parameters/serviceContextNoParams.json\"\n"
                     + "(ParameterRuntimeException):could not find field \"parameterClassName\" in "
-                    + "\"contextParameters\" entry", e.getMessage());
-        }
+                    + "\"contextParameters\" entry");
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -58,15 +55,11 @@ public class ContextParameterTests {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/serviceContextBadParams.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            assertEquals("error reading parameters from \"src/test/resources/parameters/serviceContextBadParams.json\""
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments))
+            .hasMessage("error reading parameters from \"src/test/resources/parameters/serviceContextBadParams.json\""
                     + "\n(ParameterRuntimeException):failed to deserialize the parameters for "
                     + "\"contextParameters\" to parameter class "
-                    + "\"hello\"\njava.lang.ClassNotFoundException: hello", e.getMessage());
-        }
+                    + "\"hello\"\njava.lang.ClassNotFoundException: hello");
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -74,15 +67,11 @@ public class ContextParameterTests {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/serviceContextBadPluginNameParams.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            assertEquals("error reading parameters from "
-                    + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/serviceContextBadPluginNameParams.json\"\n"
-                    + "(ParameterRuntimeException):could not find field \"parameterClassName\" in "
-                    + "\"contextParameters\" entry", e.getMessage());
-        }
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments))
+            .hasMessage("error reading parameters from "
+                + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/serviceContextBadPluginNameParams.json\"\n"
+                + "(ParameterRuntimeException):could not find field \"parameterClassName\" in "
+                + "\"contextParameters\" entry");
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -90,19 +79,13 @@ public class ContextParameterTests {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/serviceContextBadClassParams.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            assertEquals(
-                    "error reading parameters from "
-                            + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/serviceContextBadClassParams.json\""
-                            + "\n(ParameterRuntimeException):failed to deserialize "
-                            + "the parameters for \"contextParameters\""
-                            + " to parameter class \"java.lang.Integer\"\ncom.google.gson.JsonSyntaxException: "
-                            + "java.lang.IllegalStateException: Expected NUMBER but was BEGIN_OBJECT at path $",
-                    e.getMessage());
-        }
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments))
+            .hasMessage("error reading parameters from "
+                + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/serviceContextBadClassParams.json\""
+                + "\n(ParameterRuntimeException):failed to deserialize "
+                + "the parameters for \"contextParameters\""
+                + " to parameter class \"java.lang.Integer\"\ncom.google.gson.JsonSyntaxException: "
+                + "java.lang.IllegalStateException: Expected NUMBER but was BEGIN_OBJECT at path $");
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -110,126 +93,106 @@ public class ContextParameterTests {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/serviceContextBadPluginClassParams.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            assertEquals("error reading parameters from "
-                    + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/serviceContextBadPluginClassParams.json\""
-                    + "\n(ClassCastException):class org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.parameters."
-                    + "dummyclasses.SuperDooperExecutorParameters"
-                    + " cannot be cast to class org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.ContextParameters "
-                    + "(org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.parameters.dummyclasses.SuperDooperExecutorParameters and "
-                    + "org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.ContextParameters are "
-                    + "in unnamed module of loader 'app')", e.getMessage());
-        }
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments))
+            .hasMessage("error reading parameters from "
+                + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/serviceContextBadPluginClassParams.json\""
+                + "\n(ClassCastException):class org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.parameters."
+                + "dummyclasses.SuperDooperExecutorParameters"
+                + " cannot be cast to class org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.ContextParameters "
+                + "(org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.parameters.dummyclasses.SuperDooperExecutorParameters and "
+                + "org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.ContextParameters are "
+                + "in unnamed module of loader 'app')");
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void testOkFlushParamTest() {
+    public void testOkFlushParamTest() throws ParameterException {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/serviceContextOKFlushParams.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            final ApexParameters parameters = new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            assertEquals("org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.ContextParameters", parameters
-                    .getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters().getClass().getName());
-            assertEquals(123456, parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters()
-                    .getPersistorParameters().getFlushPeriod());
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            fail("This test should not throw any exception: " + e.getMessage());
-        }
+        final ApexParameters parameters = new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
+        assertEquals("org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.ContextParameters", parameters
+               .getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters().getClass().getName());
+        assertEquals(123456, parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters()
+               .getPersistorParameters().getFlushPeriod());
+
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void testOkDefaultParamTest() {
+    public void testOkDefaultParamTest() throws ParameterException {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/serviceContextOKDefaultParams.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            final ApexParameters parameters = new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            assertEquals("org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.ContextParameters", parameters
-                    .getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters().getClass().getName());
-            assertEquals(300000, parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters()
-                    .getPersistorParameters().getFlushPeriod());
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            fail("This test should not throw any exception: " + e.getMessage());
-        }
+        final ApexParameters parameters = new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
+        assertEquals("org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.ContextParameters", parameters
+                .getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters().getClass().getName());
+        assertEquals(300000, parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters()
+                .getPersistorParameters().getFlushPeriod());
+
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void testOkDistParamTest() {
+    public void testOkDistParamTest() throws ParameterException {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/serviceContextOKDistParams.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            final ApexParameters parameters = new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            assertEquals("org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.ContextParameters", parameters
-                    .getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters().getClass().getName());
-            assertEquals("org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.DistributorParameters",
-                    parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters()
-                            .getDistributorParameters().getClass().getName());
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            fail("This test should not throw any exception: " + e.getMessage());
-        }
+        final ApexParameters parameters = new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
+        assertEquals("org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.ContextParameters", parameters
+                .getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters().getClass().getName());
+        assertEquals("org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.DistributorParameters",
+                parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters()
+                        .getDistributorParameters().getClass().getName());
+
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void testOkFullDefaultParamTest() {
+    public void testOkFullDefaultParamTest() throws ParameterException {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/goodParams.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            final ApexParameters parameters = new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            assertEquals("org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.ContextParameters", parameters
-                    .getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters().getClass().getName());
-            assertEquals("org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.DistributorParameters",
-                    parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters()
-                            .getDistributorParameters().getClass().getName());
-            assertEquals("org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.LockManagerParameters",
-                    parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters()
-                            .getLockManagerParameters().getClass().getName());
-            assertEquals("org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.PersistorParameters",
-                    parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters()
-                            .getPersistorParameters().getClass().getName());
-            assertEquals(300000, parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters()
-                    .getPersistorParameters().getFlushPeriod());
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            fail("This test should not throw any exception: " + e.getMessage());
-        }
+        final ApexParameters parameters = new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
+        assertEquals("org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.ContextParameters", parameters
+                .getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters().getClass().getName());
+        assertEquals("org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.DistributorParameters",
+                parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters()
+                        .getDistributorParameters().getClass().getName());
+        assertEquals("org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.LockManagerParameters",
+                parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters()
+                        .getLockManagerParameters().getClass().getName());
+        assertEquals("org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.PersistorParameters",
+                parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters()
+                        .getPersistorParameters().getClass().getName());
+        assertEquals(300000, parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters()
+                .getPersistorParameters().getFlushPeriod());
+
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void testOkFullParamTest() {
+    public void testOkFullParamTest() throws ParameterException {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/serviceContextOKFullParams.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            final ApexParameters parameters = new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            assertEquals("org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.ContextParameters", parameters
-                    .getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters().getClass().getName());
-            assertEquals("org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.LockManagerParameters",
-                    parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters()
-                            .getLockManagerParameters().getClass().getName());
-            assertEquals("org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.PersistorParameters",
-                    parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters()
-                            .getPersistorParameters().getClass().getName());
-            assertEquals(123456, parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters()
-                    .getPersistorParameters().getFlushPeriod());
-
-            final SuperDooperDistributorParameters infinispanParameters =
-                    (SuperDooperDistributorParameters) parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters()
-                            .getContextParameters().getDistributorParameters();
-            assertEquals("org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.parameters.dummyclasses.SuperDooperDistributorParameters",
-                    infinispanParameters.getClass().getName());
-            assertEquals("my/lovely/configFile.xml", infinispanParameters.getConfigFile());
-            assertEquals("holy/stone.xml", infinispanParameters.getJgroupsFile());
-            assertEquals(false, infinispanParameters.isPreferIPv4Stack());
-            assertEquals("fatherted", infinispanParameters.getJgroupsBindAddress());
-
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            fail("This test should not throw any exception: " + e.getMessage());
-        }
+        final ApexParameters parameters = new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
+        assertEquals("org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.ContextParameters", parameters
+                .getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters().getClass().getName());
+        assertEquals("org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.LockManagerParameters",
+                parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters()
+                        .getLockManagerParameters().getClass().getName());
+        assertEquals("org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.PersistorParameters",
+                parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters()
+                        .getPersistorParameters().getClass().getName());
+        assertEquals(123456, parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getContextParameters()
+                .getPersistorParameters().getFlushPeriod());
+
+        final SuperDooperDistributorParameters infinispanParameters =
+                (SuperDooperDistributorParameters) parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters()
+                        .getContextParameters().getDistributorParameters();
+        assertEquals("org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.parameters.dummyclasses.SuperDooperDistributorParameters",
+                infinispanParameters.getClass().getName());
+        assertEquals("my/lovely/configFile.xml", infinispanParameters.getConfigFile());
+        assertEquals("holy/stone.xml", infinispanParameters.getJgroupsFile());
+        assertEquals(false, infinispanParameters.isPreferIPv4Stack());
+        assertEquals("fatherted", infinispanParameters.getJgroupsBindAddress());
+
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -237,18 +200,14 @@ public class ContextParameterTests {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/serviceContextBadClassDistParams.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            assertEquals("error reading parameters from "
-                    + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/serviceContextBadClassDistParams.json\"\n"
-                    + "(ClassCastException):class "
-                    + "org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.ContextParameters cannot be cast to class"
-                    + " org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.DistributorParameters (org.onap.policy.apex.context."
-                    + "parameters.ContextParameters and org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.DistributorParameters "
-                    + "are in unnamed module of loader 'app')", e.getMessage());
-        }
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments))
+            .hasMessage("error reading parameters from "
+                + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/serviceContextBadClassDistParams.json\"\n"
+                + "(ClassCastException):class "
+                + "org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.ContextParameters cannot be cast to class"
+                + " org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.DistributorParameters (org.onap.policy.apex.context."
+                + "parameters.ContextParameters and org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.DistributorParameters "
+                + "are in unnamed module of loader 'app')");
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -256,18 +215,14 @@ public class ContextParameterTests {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/serviceContextBadClassLockParams.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            assertEquals("error reading parameters from "
-                    + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/serviceContextBadClassLockParams.json\"\n"
-                    + "(ClassCastException):class "
-                    + "org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.ContextParameters cannot be cast to class "
-                    + "org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.LockManagerParameters (org.onap.policy.apex.context."
-                    + "parameters.ContextParameters and org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.LockManagerParameters "
-                    + "are in unnamed module of loader 'app')", e.getMessage());
-        }
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments))
+            .hasMessage("error reading parameters from "
+                + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/serviceContextBadClassLockParams.json\"\n"
+                + "(ClassCastException):class "
+                + "org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.ContextParameters cannot be cast to class "
+                + "org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.LockManagerParameters (org.onap.policy.apex.context."
+                + "parameters.ContextParameters and org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.LockManagerParameters "
+                + "are in unnamed module of loader 'app')");
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -275,17 +230,13 @@ public class ContextParameterTests {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/serviceContextBadClassPersistParams.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            assertEquals("error reading parameters from "
-                    + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/serviceContextBadClassPersistParams.json\"\n"
-                    + "(ClassCastException):class "
-                    + "org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.ContextParameters cannot be cast to class "
-                    + "org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.PersistorParameters (org.onap.policy.apex.context."
-                    + "parameters.ContextParameters and org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.PersistorParameters "
-                    + "are in unnamed module of loader 'app')", e.getMessage());
-        }
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments))
+            .hasMessage("error reading parameters from "
+                + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/serviceContextBadClassPersistParams.json\"\n"
+                + "(ClassCastException):class "
+                + "org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.ContextParameters cannot be cast to class "
+                + "org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.PersistorParameters (org.onap.policy.apex.context."
+                + "parameters.ContextParameters and org.onap.policy.apex.context.parameters.PersistorParameters "
+                + "are in unnamed module of loader 'app')");
     }
 }
diff --git a/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/ExecutorParameterTests.java b/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/ExecutorParameterTests.java
index 16a892f93..5d1b3f726 100644
--- a/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/ExecutorParameterTests.java
+++ b/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/ExecutorParameterTests.java
@@ -21,9 +21,9 @@
 
 package org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.parameters;
 
+import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThatThrownBy;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertTrue;
-import static org.junit.Assert.fail;
 
 import org.junit.After;
 import org.junit.Test;
@@ -44,17 +44,14 @@ public class ExecutorParameterTests {
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void testNoParamsTest() {
+    public void testNoParamsTest() throws ParameterException {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/serviceExecutorNoParams.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            final ApexParameters parameters = new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            assertEquals(0,
-                    parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getExecutorParameterMap().size());
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            fail("This test should not throw any exception: " + e.getMessage());
-        }
+        final ApexParameters parameters = new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
+        assertEquals(0,
+               parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getEngineParameters().getExecutorParameterMap().size());
+
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -62,15 +59,11 @@ public class ExecutorParameterTests {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/serviceExecutorBadParams.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            assertEquals("error reading parameters from "
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments))
+            .hasMessage("error reading parameters from "
                     + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/serviceExecutorBadParams.json\"\n"
                     + "(ParameterRuntimeException):value of \"executorParameters:ZOOBY\" entry is not "
-                    + "a parameter JSON object", e.getMessage());
-        }
+                    + "a parameter JSON object");
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -78,15 +71,11 @@ public class ExecutorParameterTests {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/serviceExecutorNoExecutorParams.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            assertEquals("error reading parameters from "
-                    + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/serviceExecutorNoExecutorParams.json\"\n"
-                    + "(ParameterRuntimeException):no \"executorParameters\" entry found in parameters,"
-                    + " at least one executor parameter entry must be specified", e.getMessage());
-        }
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments))
+            .hasMessage("error reading parameters from "
+                + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/serviceExecutorNoExecutorParams.json\"\n"
+                + "(ParameterRuntimeException):no \"executorParameters\" entry found in parameters,"
+                + " at least one executor parameter entry must be specified");
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -94,15 +83,11 @@ public class ExecutorParameterTests {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/serviceExecutorEmptyParams.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            assertEquals("error reading parameters from "
-                    + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/serviceExecutorEmptyParams.json\"\n"
-                    + "(ParameterRuntimeException):could not find field \"parameterClassName\" "
-                    + "in \"executorParameters:ZOOBY\" entry", e.getMessage());
-        }
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments))
+            .hasMessage("error reading parameters from "
+                + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/serviceExecutorEmptyParams.json\"\n"
+                + "(ParameterRuntimeException):could not find field \"parameterClassName\" "
+                + "in \"executorParameters:ZOOBY\" entry");
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -110,15 +95,11 @@ public class ExecutorParameterTests {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/serviceExecutorBadPluginNameParams.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            assertEquals("error reading parameters from "
-                    + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/serviceExecutorBadPluginNameParams.json\"\n"
-                    + "(ParameterRuntimeException):could not find field \"parameterClassName\" "
-                    + "in \"executorParameters:ZOOBY\" entry", e.getMessage());
-        }
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments))
+            .hasMessage("error reading parameters from "
+                + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/serviceExecutorBadPluginNameParams.json\"\n"
+                + "(ParameterRuntimeException):could not find field \"parameterClassName\" "
+                + "in \"executorParameters:ZOOBY\" entry");
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -126,15 +107,11 @@ public class ExecutorParameterTests {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/serviceExecutorBadPluginValueObjectParams.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            assertEquals("error reading parameters from "
-                    + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/serviceExecutorBadPluginValueObjectParams.json\"\n"
-                    + "(ParameterRuntimeException):value for field \"parameterClassName\" "
-                    + "of \"executorParameters:LOOBY\" entry is not a plain string", e.getMessage());
-        }
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments))
+            .hasMessage("error reading parameters from "
+                + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/serviceExecutorBadPluginValueObjectParams.json\"\n"
+                + "(ParameterRuntimeException):value for field \"parameterClassName\" "
+                + "of \"executorParameters:LOOBY\" entry is not a plain string");
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -142,15 +119,11 @@ public class ExecutorParameterTests {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/serviceExecutorBadPluginValueBlankParams.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            assertEquals("error reading parameters from "
-                    + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/serviceExecutorBadPluginValueBlankParams.json\"\n"
-                    + "(ParameterRuntimeException):value for field \"parameterClassName\" "
-                    + "in \"executorParameters:LOOBY\" entry is not specified or is blank", e.getMessage());
-        }
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments))
+            .hasMessage("error reading parameters from "
+                + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/serviceExecutorBadPluginValueBlankParams.json\"\n"
+                + "(ParameterRuntimeException):value for field \"parameterClassName\" "
+                + "in \"executorParameters:LOOBY\" entry is not specified or is blank");
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -158,38 +131,31 @@ public class ExecutorParameterTests {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/serviceExecutorBadPluginValueParams.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            assertEquals("error reading parameters from"
-                    + " \"src/test/resources/parameters/serviceExecutorBadPluginValueParams.json\"\n"
-                    + "(ParameterRuntimeException):failed to deserialize the parameters "
-                    + "for \"executorParameters:LOOBY\" to parameter class \"helloworld\"\n"
-                    + "java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: helloworld", e.getMessage());
-        }
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments))
+            .hasMessage("error reading parameters from"
+                + " \"src/test/resources/parameters/serviceExecutorBadPluginValueParams.json\"\n"
+                + "(ParameterRuntimeException):failed to deserialize the parameters "
+                + "for \"executorParameters:LOOBY\" to parameter class \"helloworld\"\n"
+                + "java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: helloworld");
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void testGoodParametersTest() {
+    public void testGoodParametersTest() throws ParameterException {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/goodParams.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            final ApexParameters parameters = new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-
-            assertEquals("MyApexEngine", parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getName());
-            assertEquals("0.0.1", parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getVersion());
-            assertEquals(45, parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getId());
-            assertEquals(19, parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getInstanceCount());
-            assertEquals(65522, parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getDeploymentPort());
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            fail("This test should not throw any exception: " + e.getMessage());
-        }
+        final ApexParameters parameters = new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
+
+        assertEquals("MyApexEngine", parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getName());
+        assertEquals("0.0.1", parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getVersion());
+        assertEquals(45, parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getId());
+        assertEquals(19, parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getInstanceCount());
+        assertEquals(65522, parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getDeploymentPort());
+
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void testRelativeParametersTest() {
+    public void testRelativeParametersTest() throws ParameterException {
         // @formatter:off
         final String[] args = {
             "-rfr",
@@ -200,18 +166,14 @@ public class ExecutorParameterTests {
         // @formatter:on
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            final ApexParameters parameters = new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-
-            assertEquals("MyApexEngine", parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getName());
-            assertEquals("0.0.1", parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getVersion());
-            assertEquals(45, parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getId());
-            assertEquals(19, parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getInstanceCount());
-            assertEquals(65522, parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getDeploymentPort());
-            assertTrue(parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getPolicyModelFileName()
-                    .endsWith("policymodels/SmallModel.json"));
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            fail("This test should not throw any exception: " + e.getMessage());
-        }
+        final ApexParameters parameters = new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
+
+        assertEquals("MyApexEngine", parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getName());
+        assertEquals("0.0.1", parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getVersion());
+        assertEquals(45, parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getId());
+        assertEquals(19, parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getInstanceCount());
+        assertEquals(65522, parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getDeploymentPort());
+        assertTrue(parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getPolicyModelFileName()
+                .endsWith("policymodels/SmallModel.json"));
     }
 }
diff --git a/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/ParameterTests.java b/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/ParameterTests.java
index cbd9ee058..4948ab5f3 100644
--- a/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/ParameterTests.java
+++ b/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/ParameterTests.java
@@ -21,10 +21,10 @@
 
 package org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.parameters;
 
+import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThatThrownBy;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertFalse;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertTrue;
-import static org.junit.Assert.fail;
 
 import java.util.Arrays;
 import org.junit.Test;
@@ -51,13 +51,9 @@ public class ParameterTests {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/invalidNoFile.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            assertTrue(e.getMessage().startsWith("error reading parameters from \"src"));
-            assertTrue(e.getMessage().contains("FileNotFoundException"));
-        }
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments))
+            .hasMessageStartingWith("error reading parameters from \"src")
+            .hasMessageContaining("FileNotFoundException");
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -65,13 +61,9 @@ public class ParameterTests {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/empty.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            assertTrue(e.getMessage()
-                    .startsWith("validation error(s) on parameters from \"src/test/resources/parameters/empty.json\""));
-        }
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments))
+            .hasMessageStartingWith("validation error(s) on parameters from \"src/test/resources/parameters/empty"
+                    + ".json\"");
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -79,20 +71,16 @@ public class ParameterTests {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/noParams.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            assertEquals("validation error(s) on parameters from \"src/test/resources/parameters/noParams.json\"\n"
-                    + "parameter group \"APEX_PARAMETERS\" type "
-                    + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters\" INVALID, "
-                    + "parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "  parameter group \"UNDEFINED\" INVALID, "
-                    + "engine service parameters are not specified\n"
-                    + "  parameter group map \"eventOutputParameters\" INVALID, "
-                    + "at least one event output must be specified\n"
-                    + "  parameter group map \"eventInputParameters\" INVALID, "
-                    + "at least one event input must be specified\n", e.getMessage());
-        }
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments))
+            .hasMessage("validation error(s) on parameters from \"src/test/resources/parameters/noParams.json\"\n"
+                + "parameter group \"APEX_PARAMETERS\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters\" INVALID, "
+                + "parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "  parameter group \"UNDEFINED\" INVALID, "
+                + "engine service parameters are not specified\n"
+                + "  parameter group map \"eventOutputParameters\" INVALID, "
+                + "at least one event output must be specified\n"
+                + "  parameter group map \"eventInputParameters\" INVALID, "
+                + "at least one event input must be specified\n");
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -100,24 +88,19 @@ public class ParameterTests {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/blankParams.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-
-            assertEquals("validation error(s) on parameters from \"src/test/resources/parameters/blankParams.json\"\n"
-                    + "parameter group \"APEX_PARAMETERS\" type "
-                    + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters\" INVALID, "
-                    + "parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "  parameter group \"ENGINE_SERVICE_PARAMETERS\" type "
-                    + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.engineservice.EngineServiceParameters\" "
-                    + "INVALID, parameter group has status INVALID\n"
-                    + "    field \"id\" type \"int\" value \"-1\" INVALID, "
-                    + "id not specified or specified value [-1] invalid, must be specified as id >= 0\n"
-                    + "  parameter group map \"eventOutputParameters\" INVALID, "
-                    + "at least one event output must be specified\n"
-                    + "  parameter group map \"eventInputParameters\" INVALID, "
-                    + "at least one event input must be specified\n", e.getMessage());
-        }
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments))
+            .hasMessage("validation error(s) on parameters from \"src/test/resources/parameters/blankParams.json\"\n"
+                + "parameter group \"APEX_PARAMETERS\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters\" INVALID, "
+                + "parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "  parameter group \"ENGINE_SERVICE_PARAMETERS\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.engineservice.EngineServiceParameters\" "
+                + "INVALID, parameter group has status INVALID\n"
+                + "    field \"id\" type \"int\" value \"-1\" INVALID, "
+                + "id not specified or specified value [-1] invalid, must be specified as id >= 0\n"
+                + "  parameter group map \"eventOutputParameters\" INVALID, "
+                + "at least one event output must be specified\n"
+                + "  parameter group map \"eventInputParameters\" INVALID, "
+                + "at least one event input must be specified\n");
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -125,45 +108,41 @@ public class ParameterTests {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/badParams.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            assertEquals("validation error(s) on parameters from \"src/test/resources/parameters/badParams.json\"\n"
-                    + "parameter group \"APEX_PARAMETERS\" type "
-                    + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters\" INVALID, "
-                    + "parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "  parameter group \"hello there\" type "
-                    + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.engineservice.EngineServiceParameters\" "
-                    + "INVALID, parameter group has status INVALID\n"
-                    + "    field \"name\" type \"java.lang.String\" value \"hello there\" INVALID, "
-                    + "name is invalid, it must match regular expression[A-Za-z0-9\\-_\\.]+\n"
-                    + "    field \"id\" type \"int\" value \"-45\" INVALID, id not specified or "
-                    + "specified value [-45] invalid, must be specified as id >= 0\n"
-                    + "    field \"instanceCount\" type \"int\" value \"-345\" INVALID, "
-                    + "instanceCount [-345] invalid, must be specified as instanceCount >= 1\n"
-                    + "    field \"deploymentPort\" type \"int\" value \"65536\" INVALID, "
-                    + "deploymentPort [65536] invalid, must be specified as 1024 <= port <= 65535\n"
-                    + "    field \"policyModelFileName\" type \"java.lang.String\" "
-                    + "value \"/some/file/name.xml\" INVALID, not found\n"
-                    + "  parameter group map \"eventOutputParameters\" INVALID, "
-                    + "parameter group map has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"FirstProducer\" type "
-                    + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
-                    + ", parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "      parameter group \"FILE\" type "
-                    + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.event.impl."
-                    + "filecarrierplugin.FileCarrierTechnologyParameters\" INVALID, "
-                    + "parameter group has status INVALID\n"
-                    + "        field \"fileName\" type \"java.lang.String\" value \"null\" INVALID, "
-                    + "\"null\" invalid, must be specified as a non-empty string\n"
-                    + "  parameter group map \"eventInputParameters\" INVALID, "
-                    + "parameter group map has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"TheFileConsumer1\" type "
-                    + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
-                    + ", parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "      parameter group \"FILE\" type "
-                    + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.event.impl."
-                    + "filecarrierplugin.FileCarrierTechnologyParameters\" INVALID, "
-                    + "parameter group has status INVALID\n"
-                    + "        field \"fileName\" type \"java.lang.String\" value \"null\" INVALID, "
-                    + "\"null\" invalid, must be specified as a non-empty string\n", e.getMessage());
-        }
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments))
+            .hasMessage("validation error(s) on parameters from \"src/test/resources/parameters/badParams.json\"\n"
+                + "parameter group \"APEX_PARAMETERS\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters\" INVALID, "
+                + "parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "  parameter group \"hello there\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.engineservice.EngineServiceParameters\" "
+                + "INVALID, parameter group has status INVALID\n"
+                + "    field \"name\" type \"java.lang.String\" value \"hello there\" INVALID, "
+                + "name is invalid, it must match regular expression[A-Za-z0-9\\-_\\.]+\n"
+                + "    field \"id\" type \"int\" value \"-45\" INVALID, id not specified or "
+                + "specified value [-45] invalid, must be specified as id >= 0\n"
+                + "    field \"instanceCount\" type \"int\" value \"-345\" INVALID, "
+                + "instanceCount [-345] invalid, must be specified as instanceCount >= 1\n"
+                + "    field \"deploymentPort\" type \"int\" value \"65536\" INVALID, "
+                + "deploymentPort [65536] invalid, must be specified as 1024 <= port <= 65535\n"
+                + "    field \"policyModelFileName\" type \"java.lang.String\" "
+                + "value \"/some/file/name.xml\" INVALID, not found\n"
+                + "  parameter group map \"eventOutputParameters\" INVALID, "
+                + "parameter group map has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"FirstProducer\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
+                + ", parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "      parameter group \"FILE\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.event.impl."
+                + "filecarrierplugin.FileCarrierTechnologyParameters\" INVALID, "
+                + "parameter group has status INVALID\n"
+                + "        field \"fileName\" type \"java.lang.String\" value \"null\" INVALID, "
+                + "\"null\" invalid, must be specified as a non-empty string\n"
+                + "  parameter group map \"eventInputParameters\" INVALID, "
+                + "parameter group map has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"TheFileConsumer1\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
+                + ", parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "      parameter group \"FILE\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.event.impl."
+                + "filecarrierplugin.FileCarrierTechnologyParameters\" INVALID, "
+                + "parameter group has status INVALID\n"
+                + "        field \"fileName\" type \"java.lang.String\" value \"null\" INVALID, "
+                + "\"null\" invalid, must be specified as a non-empty string\n");
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -171,125 +150,111 @@ public class ParameterTests {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/badParamsModelNotFile.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            assertEquals(
-                    "validation error(s) on parameters from "
-                            + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/badParamsModelNotFile.json\"\n"
-                            + "parameter group \"APEX_PARAMETERS\" type "
-                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters\" INVALID, "
-                            + "parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "  parameter group \"MyApexEngine\" type "
-                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.engineservice.EngineServiceParameters\" "
-                            + "INVALID, parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "    field \"policyModelFileName\" "
-                            + "type \"java.lang.String\" value \"src/test\" INVALID, is not a plain file\n",
-                    e.getMessage());
-        }
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments))
+            .hasMessage("validation error(s) on parameters from "
+                + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/badParamsModelNotFile.json\"\n"
+                + "parameter group \"APEX_PARAMETERS\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters\" INVALID, "
+                + "parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "  parameter group \"MyApexEngine\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.engineservice.EngineServiceParameters\" "
+                + "INVALID, parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "    field \"policyModelFileName\" "
+                + "type \"java.lang.String\" value \"src/test\" INVALID, is not a plain file\n");
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void testGoodParametersTest() {
+    public void testGoodParametersTest() throws ParameterException {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/goodParams.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            final ApexParameters parameters = new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-
-            assertEquals(2, parameters.getEventInputParameters().size());
-            assertEquals(2, parameters.getEventOutputParameters().size());
+        final ApexParameters parameters = new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
 
-            assertTrue(parameters.getEventOutputParameters().containsKey("FirstProducer"));
-            assertTrue(parameters.getEventOutputParameters().containsKey("MyOtherProducer"));
-            assertEquals("FILE", parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("FirstProducer")
-                    .getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getLabel());
-            assertEquals("FILE", parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("MyOtherProducer")
-                    .getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getLabel());
-            assertEquals(ApexFileEventProducer.class.getName(), parameters.getEventOutputParameters()
-                    .get("MyOtherProducer").getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getEventProducerPluginClass());
-            assertEquals(ApexFileEventConsumer.class.getName(), parameters.getEventOutputParameters()
-                    .get("MyOtherProducer").getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getEventConsumerPluginClass());
-            assertEquals("JSON",
-                    parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("FirstProducer").getEventProtocolParameters().getLabel());
-            assertEquals("JSON", parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("MyOtherProducer")
-                    .getEventProtocolParameters().getLabel());
+        assertEquals(2, parameters.getEventInputParameters().size());
+        assertEquals(2, parameters.getEventOutputParameters().size());
+        assertTrue(parameters.getEventOutputParameters().containsKey("FirstProducer"));
+        assertTrue(parameters.getEventOutputParameters().containsKey("MyOtherProducer"));
+        assertEquals("FILE", parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("FirstProducer")
+                .getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getLabel());
+        assertEquals("FILE", parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("MyOtherProducer")
+                .getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getLabel());
+        assertEquals(ApexFileEventProducer.class.getName(), parameters.getEventOutputParameters()
+                .get("MyOtherProducer").getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getEventProducerPluginClass());
+        assertEquals(ApexFileEventConsumer.class.getName(), parameters.getEventOutputParameters()
+                .get("MyOtherProducer").getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getEventConsumerPluginClass());
+        assertEquals("JSON",
+                parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("FirstProducer").getEventProtocolParameters().getLabel());
+        assertEquals("JSON", parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("MyOtherProducer")
+                .getEventProtocolParameters().getLabel());
 
-            assertTrue(parameters.getEventInputParameters().containsKey("TheFileConsumer1"));
-            assertTrue(parameters.getEventInputParameters().containsKey("MySuperDooperConsumer1"));
-            assertEquals("FILE", parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("TheFileConsumer1")
-                    .getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getLabel());
-            assertEquals("SUPER_DOOPER", parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("MySuperDooperConsumer1")
-                    .getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getLabel());
-            assertEquals("JSON", parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("TheFileConsumer1")
-                    .getEventProtocolParameters().getLabel());
-            assertEquals("SUPER_TOK_DEL", parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("MySuperDooperConsumer1")
-                    .getEventProtocolParameters().getLabel());
-            assertEquals(ApexFileEventProducer.class.getName(), parameters.getEventInputParameters()
-                    .get("TheFileConsumer1").getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getEventProducerPluginClass());
-            assertEquals(ApexFileEventConsumer.class.getName(), parameters.getEventInputParameters()
-                    .get("TheFileConsumer1").getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getEventConsumerPluginClass());
-            assertEquals(SuperDooperEventProducer.class.getName(), parameters.getEventInputParameters()
-                    .get("MySuperDooperConsumer1").getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getEventProducerPluginClass());
-            assertEquals(SuperDooperEventSubscriber.class.getName(), parameters.getEventInputParameters()
-                    .get("MySuperDooperConsumer1").getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getEventConsumerPluginClass());
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            fail("This test should not throw an exception");
-        }
+        assertTrue(parameters.getEventInputParameters().containsKey("TheFileConsumer1"));
+        assertTrue(parameters.getEventInputParameters().containsKey("MySuperDooperConsumer1"));
+        assertEquals("FILE", parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("TheFileConsumer1")
+                .getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getLabel());
+        assertEquals("SUPER_DOOPER", parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("MySuperDooperConsumer1")
+                .getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getLabel());
+        assertEquals("JSON", parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("TheFileConsumer1")
+                .getEventProtocolParameters().getLabel());
+        assertEquals("SUPER_TOK_DEL", parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("MySuperDooperConsumer1")
+                .getEventProtocolParameters().getLabel());
+        assertEquals(ApexFileEventProducer.class.getName(), parameters.getEventInputParameters()
+                .get("TheFileConsumer1").getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getEventProducerPluginClass());
+        assertEquals(ApexFileEventConsumer.class.getName(), parameters.getEventInputParameters()
+                .get("TheFileConsumer1").getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getEventConsumerPluginClass());
+        assertEquals(SuperDooperEventProducer.class.getName(), parameters.getEventInputParameters()
+                .get("MySuperDooperConsumer1").getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getEventProducerPluginClass());
+        assertEquals(SuperDooperEventSubscriber.class.getName(), parameters.getEventInputParameters()
+                .get("MySuperDooperConsumer1").getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getEventConsumerPluginClass());
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void testSuperDooperParametersTest() {
+    public void testSuperDooperParametersTest() throws ParameterException {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/superDooperParams.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            final ApexParameters parameters = new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
+        final ApexParameters parameters = new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
+
+        assertEquals("MyApexEngine", parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getName());
+        assertEquals("0.0.1", parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getVersion());
+        assertEquals(45, parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getId());
+        assertEquals(345, parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getInstanceCount());
+        assertEquals(65522, parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getDeploymentPort());
 
-            assertEquals("MyApexEngine", parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getName());
-            assertEquals("0.0.1", parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getVersion());
-            assertEquals(45, parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getId());
-            assertEquals(345, parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getInstanceCount());
-            assertEquals(65522, parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getDeploymentPort());
+        final CarrierTechnologyParameters prodCarrierTech =
+                parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("FirstProducer").getCarrierTechnologyParameters();
+        final EventProtocolParameters prodEventProt =
+                parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("FirstProducer").getEventProtocolParameters();
+        final CarrierTechnologyParameters consCarrierTech =
+                parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("MySuperDooperConsumer1").getCarrierTechnologyParameters();
+        final EventProtocolParameters consEventProt =
+                parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("MySuperDooperConsumer1").getEventProtocolParameters();
 
-            final CarrierTechnologyParameters prodCarrierTech =
-                    parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("FirstProducer").getCarrierTechnologyParameters();
-            final EventProtocolParameters prodEventProt =
-                    parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("FirstProducer").getEventProtocolParameters();
-            final CarrierTechnologyParameters consCarrierTech =
-                    parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("MySuperDooperConsumer1").getCarrierTechnologyParameters();
-            final EventProtocolParameters consEventProt =
-                    parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("MySuperDooperConsumer1").getEventProtocolParameters();
+        assertEquals("SUPER_DOOPER", prodCarrierTech.getLabel());
+        assertEquals("SUPER_TOK_DEL", prodEventProt.getLabel());
+        assertEquals("SUPER_DOOPER", consCarrierTech.getLabel());
+        assertEquals("JSON", consEventProt.getLabel());
 
-            assertEquals("SUPER_DOOPER", prodCarrierTech.getLabel());
-            assertEquals("SUPER_TOK_DEL", prodEventProt.getLabel());
-            assertEquals("SUPER_DOOPER", consCarrierTech.getLabel());
-            assertEquals("JSON", consEventProt.getLabel());
+        assertTrue(prodCarrierTech instanceof SuperDooperCarrierTechnologyParameters);
 
-            assertTrue(prodCarrierTech instanceof SuperDooperCarrierTechnologyParameters);
+        final SuperDooperCarrierTechnologyParameters superDooperParameters =
+                (SuperDooperCarrierTechnologyParameters) prodCarrierTech;
+        assertEquals("somehost:12345", superDooperParameters.getBootstrapServers());
+        assertEquals("0", superDooperParameters.getAcks());
+        assertEquals(25, superDooperParameters.getRetries());
+        assertEquals(98765, superDooperParameters.getBatchSize());
+        assertEquals(21, superDooperParameters.getLingerTime());
+        assertEquals(50505050, superDooperParameters.getBufferMemory());
+        assertEquals("first-group-id", superDooperParameters.getGroupId());
+        assertFalse(superDooperParameters.isEnableAutoCommit());
+        assertEquals(441, superDooperParameters.getAutoCommitTime());
+        assertEquals(987, superDooperParameters.getSessionTimeout());
+        assertEquals("producer-out", superDooperParameters.getProducerTopic());
+        assertEquals(101, superDooperParameters.getConsumerPollTime());
+        assertEquals("some.key.serailizer", superDooperParameters.getKeySerializer());
+        assertEquals("some.value.serailizer", superDooperParameters.getValueSerializer());
+        assertEquals("some.key.deserailizer", superDooperParameters.getKeyDeserializer());
+        assertEquals("some.value.deserailizer", superDooperParameters.getValueDeserializer());
 
-            final SuperDooperCarrierTechnologyParameters superDooperParameters =
-                    (SuperDooperCarrierTechnologyParameters) prodCarrierTech;
-            assertEquals("somehost:12345", superDooperParameters.getBootstrapServers());
-            assertEquals("0", superDooperParameters.getAcks());
-            assertEquals(25, superDooperParameters.getRetries());
-            assertEquals(98765, superDooperParameters.getBatchSize());
-            assertEquals(21, superDooperParameters.getLingerTime());
-            assertEquals(50505050, superDooperParameters.getBufferMemory());
-            assertEquals("first-group-id", superDooperParameters.getGroupId());
-            assertFalse(superDooperParameters.isEnableAutoCommit());
-            assertEquals(441, superDooperParameters.getAutoCommitTime());
-            assertEquals(987, superDooperParameters.getSessionTimeout());
-            assertEquals("producer-out", superDooperParameters.getProducerTopic());
-            assertEquals(101, superDooperParameters.getConsumerPollTime());
-            assertEquals("some.key.serailizer", superDooperParameters.getKeySerializer());
-            assertEquals("some.value.serailizer", superDooperParameters.getValueSerializer());
-            assertEquals("some.key.deserailizer", superDooperParameters.getKeyDeserializer());
-            assertEquals("some.value.deserailizer", superDooperParameters.getValueDeserializer());
+        final String[] consumerTopics = {"consumer-out-0", "consumer-out-1", "consumer-out-2"};
+        assertEquals(Arrays.asList(consumerTopics), superDooperParameters.getConsumerTopicList());
 
-            final String[] consumerTopics = {"consumer-out-0", "consumer-out-1", "consumer-out-2"};
-            assertEquals(Arrays.asList(consumerTopics), superDooperParameters.getConsumerTopicList());
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            fail("This test should not throw an exception");
-        }
     }
 }
diff --git a/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/ProducerConsumerTests.java b/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/ProducerConsumerTests.java
index df1960aa0..a80aa09c8 100644
--- a/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/ProducerConsumerTests.java
+++ b/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/ProducerConsumerTests.java
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 
 package org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.parameters;
 
+import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThatThrownBy;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertTrue;
 import static org.junit.Assert.fail;
@@ -39,37 +40,33 @@ import org.onap.policy.common.parameters.ParameterException;
  */
 public class ProducerConsumerTests {
     @Test
-    public void testGoodParametersTest() {
+    public void testGoodParametersTest() throws ParameterException {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/goodParams.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            final ApexParameters parameters = new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-
-            assertEquals("MyApexEngine", parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getName());
-            assertEquals("0.0.1", parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getVersion());
-            assertEquals(45, parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getId());
-            assertEquals(19, parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getInstanceCount());
-            assertEquals(65522, parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getDeploymentPort());
-            assertEquals("FILE", parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("FirstProducer")
-                    .getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getLabel());
-            assertEquals("JSON",
-                    parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("FirstProducer").getEventProtocolParameters().getLabel());
-            assertEquals("FILE", parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("MyOtherProducer")
-                    .getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getLabel());
-            assertEquals("JSON", parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("MyOtherProducer")
-                    .getEventProtocolParameters().getLabel());
-            assertEquals("FILE", parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("TheFileConsumer1")
-                    .getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getLabel());
-            assertEquals("JSON", parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("TheFileConsumer1")
-                    .getEventProtocolParameters().getLabel());
-            assertEquals("SUPER_DOOPER", parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("MySuperDooperConsumer1")
-                    .getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getLabel());
-            assertEquals("SUPER_TOK_DEL", parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("MySuperDooperConsumer1")
-                    .getEventProtocolParameters().getLabel());
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            fail("This test should not throw an exception");
-        }
+        final ApexParameters parameters = new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
+
+        assertEquals("MyApexEngine", parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getName());
+        assertEquals("0.0.1", parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getVersion());
+        assertEquals(45, parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getId());
+        assertEquals(19, parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getInstanceCount());
+        assertEquals(65522, parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getDeploymentPort());
+        assertEquals("FILE", parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("FirstProducer")
+                .getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getLabel());
+        assertEquals("JSON",
+                parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("FirstProducer").getEventProtocolParameters().getLabel());
+        assertEquals("FILE", parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("MyOtherProducer")
+                .getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getLabel());
+        assertEquals("JSON", parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("MyOtherProducer")
+                .getEventProtocolParameters().getLabel());
+        assertEquals("FILE", parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("TheFileConsumer1")
+                .getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getLabel());
+        assertEquals("JSON", parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("TheFileConsumer1")
+                .getEventProtocolParameters().getLabel());
+        assertEquals("SUPER_DOOPER", parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("MySuperDooperConsumer1")
+                .getCarrierTechnologyParameters().getLabel());
+        assertEquals("SUPER_TOK_DEL", parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("MySuperDooperConsumer1")
+                .getEventProtocolParameters().getLabel());
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -77,20 +74,16 @@ public class ProducerConsumerTests {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsNoCT.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            assertEquals("validation error(s) on parameters from \"src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsNoCT.json\"\n"
-                    + "parameter group \"APEX_PARAMETERS\" type "
-                    + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters\" INVALID, "
-                    + "parameter group has status INVALID\n"
-                    + "  parameter group map \"eventInputParameters\" INVALID, "
-                    + "parameter group map has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"aConsumer\" type "
-                    + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID,"
-                    + " parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "      parameter group \"UNDEFINED\" INVALID, "
-                    + "event handler carrierTechnologyParameters not specified or blank\n", e.getMessage());
-        }
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments))
+            .hasMessage("validation error(s) on parameters from \"src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsNoCT.json\"\n"
+                + "parameter group \"APEX_PARAMETERS\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters\" INVALID, "
+                + "parameter group has status INVALID\n"
+                + "  parameter group map \"eventInputParameters\" INVALID, "
+                + "parameter group map has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"aConsumer\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID,"
+                + " parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "      parameter group \"UNDEFINED\" INVALID, "
+                + "event handler carrierTechnologyParameters not specified or blank\n");
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -98,29 +91,25 @@ public class ProducerConsumerTests {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsNoEP.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            assertEquals("validation error(s) on parameters from \"src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsNoEP.json\"\n"
-                    + "parameter group \"APEX_PARAMETERS\" type "
-                    + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters\" INVALID, "
-                    + "parameter group has status INVALID\n"
-                    + "  parameter group map \"eventOutputParameters\" INVALID, "
-                    + "parameter group map has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"aProducer\" type "
-                    + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
-                    + ", parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "      parameter group \"UNDEFINED\" INVALID, "
-                    + "event handler eventProtocolParameters not specified or blank\n"
-                    + "  parameter group map \"eventInputParameters\" INVALID, "
-                    + "parameter group map has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"aConsumer\" type "
-                    + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
-                    + ", parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "      parameter group \"FILE\" type "
-                    + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.event.impl."
-                    + "filecarrierplugin.FileCarrierTechnologyParameters\" INVALID, "
-                    + "parameter group has status INVALID\n"
-                    + "        field \"fileName\" type \"java.lang.String\" value \"null\" INVALID, "
-                    + "\"null\" invalid, must be specified as a non-empty string\n", e.getMessage());
-        }
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments))
+            .hasMessage("validation error(s) on parameters from \"src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsNoEP.json\"\n"
+                + "parameter group \"APEX_PARAMETERS\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters\" INVALID, "
+                + "parameter group has status INVALID\n"
+                + "  parameter group map \"eventOutputParameters\" INVALID, "
+                + "parameter group map has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"aProducer\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
+                + ", parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "      parameter group \"UNDEFINED\" INVALID, "
+                + "event handler eventProtocolParameters not specified or blank\n"
+                + "  parameter group map \"eventInputParameters\" INVALID, "
+                + "parameter group map has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"aConsumer\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
+                + ", parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "      parameter group \"FILE\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.event.impl."
+                + "filecarrierplugin.FileCarrierTechnologyParameters\" INVALID, "
+                + "parameter group has status INVALID\n"
+                + "        field \"fileName\" type \"java.lang.String\" value \"null\" INVALID, "
+                + "\"null\" invalid, must be specified as a non-empty string\n");
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -128,14 +117,10 @@ public class ProducerConsumerTests {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsNoCTParClass.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            assertEquals("error reading parameters from \"src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsNoCTParClass.json\"\n"
-                    + "(ParameterRuntimeException):carrier technology \"SUPER_DOOPER\" "
-                    + "parameter \"parameterClassName\" value \"null\" invalid in JSON file", e.getMessage());
-        }
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments))
+            .hasMessage("error reading parameters from \"src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsNoCTParClass.json\"\n"
+                + "(ParameterRuntimeException):carrier technology \"SUPER_DOOPER\" "
+                + "parameter \"parameterClassName\" value \"null\" invalid in JSON file");
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -143,18 +128,14 @@ public class ProducerConsumerTests {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsMismatchCTParClass.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            assertEquals("error reading parameters from "
-                    + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsMismatchCTParClass.json\"\n"
-                    + "(ParameterRuntimeException):carrier technology \"SUPER_LOOPER\" "
-                    + "does not match plugin \"SUPER_DOOPER\" in \"" + "org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine."
-                    + "parameters.dummyclasses.SuperDooperCarrierTechnologyParameters"
-                    + "\", specify correct carrier technology parameter plugin "
-                    + "in parameter \"parameterClassName\"", e.getMessage());
-        }
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments))
+            .hasMessage("error reading parameters from "
+                + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsMismatchCTParClass.json\"\n"
+                + "(ParameterRuntimeException):carrier technology \"SUPER_LOOPER\" "
+                + "does not match plugin \"SUPER_DOOPER\" in \"" + "org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine."
+                + "parameters.dummyclasses.SuperDooperCarrierTechnologyParameters"
+                + "\", specify correct carrier technology parameter plugin "
+                + "in parameter \"parameterClassName\"");
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -162,38 +143,31 @@ public class ProducerConsumerTests {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsWrongTypeCTParClass.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            assertEquals("error reading parameters from "
-                    + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsWrongTypeCTParClass.json\"\n"
-                    + "(ParameterRuntimeException):could not create default parameters for carrier technology "
-                    + "\"SUPER_DOOPER\"\n" + "class org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.parameters.dummyclasses."
-                    + "SuperTokenDelimitedEventProtocolParameters cannot be cast to class "
-                    + "org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.carriertechnology.CarrierTechnologyParameters (org.onap."
-                    + "policy.apex.service.engine.parameters.dummyclasses.SuperTokenDelimitedEventProtocolParameters "
-                    + "and org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.carriertechnology.CarrierTechnologyParameters are in"
-                    + " unnamed module of loader 'app')", e.getMessage());
-        }
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments))
+            .hasMessage("error reading parameters from "
+                + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsWrongTypeCTParClass.json\"\n"
+                + "(ParameterRuntimeException):could not create default parameters for carrier technology "
+                + "\"SUPER_DOOPER\"\n" + "class org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.parameters.dummyclasses."
+                + "SuperTokenDelimitedEventProtocolParameters cannot be cast to class "
+                + "org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.carriertechnology.CarrierTechnologyParameters (org.onap."
+                + "policy.apex.service.engine.parameters.dummyclasses.SuperTokenDelimitedEventProtocolParameters "
+                + "and org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.carriertechnology.CarrierTechnologyParameters are in"
+                + " unnamed module of loader 'app')");
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void testOkFileNameCarrierTechnology() {
+    public void testOkFileNameCarrierTechnology() throws ParameterException {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsOKFileName.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            final ApexParameters parameters = new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            final FileCarrierTechnologyParameters fileParams = (FileCarrierTechnologyParameters) parameters
-                    .getEventOutputParameters().get("aProducer").getCarrierTechnologyParameters();
-            assertTrue(fileParams.getFileName().endsWith("target/aaa.json"));
-            assertEquals(false, fileParams.isStandardError());
-            assertEquals(false, fileParams.isStandardIo());
-            assertEquals(false, fileParams.isStreamingMode());
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            fail("This test should not throw an exception");
-        }
+        final ApexParameters parameters = new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
+        final FileCarrierTechnologyParameters fileParams = (FileCarrierTechnologyParameters) parameters
+                .getEventOutputParameters().get("aProducer").getCarrierTechnologyParameters();
+        assertTrue(fileParams.getFileName().endsWith("target/aaa.json"));
+        assertEquals(false, fileParams.isStandardError());
+        assertEquals(false, fileParams.isStandardIo());
+        assertEquals(false, fileParams.isStreamingMode());
+
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -201,25 +175,21 @@ public class ProducerConsumerTests {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsBadFileName.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            assertEquals("validation error(s) on parameters from "
-                    + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsBadFileName.json\"\n"
-                    + "parameter group \"APEX_PARAMETERS\" type "
-                    + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters\" INVALID, "
-                    + "parameter group has status INVALID\n"
-                    + "  parameter group map \"eventOutputParameters\" INVALID, "
-                    + "parameter group map has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"aProducer\" type "
-                    + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" "
-                    + "INVALID, parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "      parameter group \"FILE\" type "
-                    + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.event.impl."
-                    + "filecarrierplugin.FileCarrierTechnologyParameters\" INVALID, "
-                    + "parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "        field \"fileName\" type "
-                    + "\"java.lang.String\" value \"null\" INVALID, "
-                    + "\"null\" invalid, must be specified as a non-empty string\n", e.getMessage());
-        }
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments))
+            .hasMessage("validation error(s) on parameters from "
+                + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsBadFileName.json\"\n"
+                + "parameter group \"APEX_PARAMETERS\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters\" INVALID, "
+                + "parameter group has status INVALID\n"
+                + "  parameter group map \"eventOutputParameters\" INVALID, "
+                + "parameter group map has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"aProducer\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" "
+                + "INVALID, parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "      parameter group \"FILE\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.event.impl."
+                + "filecarrierplugin.FileCarrierTechnologyParameters\" INVALID, "
+                + "parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "        field \"fileName\" type "
+                + "\"java.lang.String\" value \"null\" INVALID, "
+                + "\"null\" invalid, must be specified as a non-empty string\n");
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -227,18 +197,12 @@ public class ProducerConsumerTests {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsBadEPParClass.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            assertEquals(
-                    "error reading parameters from \"src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsBadEPParClass.json\"\n"
-                            + "(ParameterRuntimeException):event protocol \"SUPER_TOK_DEL\" "
-                            + "does not match plugin \"JSON\" in \"org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.event.impl"
-                            + ".jsonprotocolplugin.JsonEventProtocolParameters"
-                            + "\", specify correct event protocol parameter plugin in parameter \"parameterClassName\"",
-                    e.getMessage());
-        }
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments))
+            .hasMessage("error reading parameters from \"src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsBadEPParClass.json\"\n"
+                + "(ParameterRuntimeException):event protocol \"SUPER_TOK_DEL\" "
+                + "does not match plugin \"JSON\" in \"org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.event.impl"
+                + ".jsonprotocolplugin.JsonEventProtocolParameters"
+                + "\", specify correct event protocol parameter plugin in parameter \"parameterClassName\"");
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -246,14 +210,10 @@ public class ProducerConsumerTests {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsNoEPParClass.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            assertEquals("error reading parameters from \"src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsNoEPParClass.json\"\n"
-                    + "(ParameterRuntimeException):event protocol \"SUPER_TOK_DEL\" parameter "
-                    + "\"parameterClassName\" value \"null\" invalid in JSON file", e.getMessage());
-        }
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments))
+            .hasMessage("error reading parameters from \"src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsNoEPParClass.json\"\n"
+                + "(ParameterRuntimeException):event protocol \"SUPER_TOK_DEL\" parameter "
+                + "\"parameterClassName\" value \"null\" invalid in JSON file");
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -261,20 +221,14 @@ public class ProducerConsumerTests {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsMismatchEPParClass.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            assertEquals(
-                    "error reading parameters from "
-                            + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsMismatchEPParClass.json\"\n"
-                            + "(ParameterRuntimeException):event protocol \"SUPER_TOK_BEL\" "
-                            + "does not match plugin \"SUPER_TOK_DEL\" in "
-                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.parameters.dummyclasses."
-                            + "SuperTokenDelimitedEventProtocolParameters\", "
-                            + "specify correct event protocol parameter plugin in parameter \"parameterClassName\"",
-                    e.getMessage());
-        }
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments))
+            .hasMessage("error reading parameters from "
+                + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsMismatchEPParClass.json\"\n"
+                + "(ParameterRuntimeException):event protocol \"SUPER_TOK_BEL\" "
+                + "does not match plugin \"SUPER_TOK_DEL\" in "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.parameters.dummyclasses."
+                + "SuperTokenDelimitedEventProtocolParameters\", "
+                + "specify correct event protocol parameter plugin in parameter \"parameterClassName\"");
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -282,19 +236,15 @@ public class ProducerConsumerTests {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsWrongTypeEPParClass.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            assertEquals("error reading parameters from "
-                    + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsWrongTypeEPParClass.json\"\n"
-                    + "(ParameterRuntimeException):could not create default parameters for event protocol "
-                    + "\"SUPER_TOK_DEL\"\n" + "class org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine."
-                    + "parameters.dummyclasses.SuperDooperCarrierTechnologyParameters "
-                    + "cannot be cast to class org.onap.policy.apex.service."
-                    + "parameters.eventprotocol.EventProtocolParameters (org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.parameters"
-                    + ".dummyclasses.SuperDooperCarrierTechnologyParameters and org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters"
-                    + ".eventprotocol.EventProtocolParameters are in unnamed module of loader 'app')", e.getMessage());
-        }
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments))
+            .hasMessage("error reading parameters from "
+                + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/prodConsWrongTypeEPParClass.json\"\n"
+                + "(ParameterRuntimeException):could not create default parameters for event protocol "
+                + "\"SUPER_TOK_DEL\"\n" + "class org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine."
+                + "parameters.dummyclasses.SuperDooperCarrierTechnologyParameters "
+                + "cannot be cast to class org.onap.policy.apex.service."
+                + "parameters.eventprotocol.EventProtocolParameters (org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.parameters"
+                + ".dummyclasses.SuperDooperCarrierTechnologyParameters and org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters"
+                + ".eventprotocol.EventProtocolParameters are in unnamed module of loader 'app')");
     }
 }
diff --git a/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/SyncParameterTests.java b/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/SyncParameterTests.java
index be2c22c93..91f8c6699 100644
--- a/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/SyncParameterTests.java
+++ b/services/services-engine/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/service/engine/parameters/SyncParameterTests.java
@@ -21,9 +21,9 @@
 
 package org.onap.policy.apex.service.engine.parameters;
 
+import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThatThrownBy;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertTrue;
-import static org.junit.Assert.fail;
 
 import java.util.Arrays;
 import org.junit.Test;
@@ -48,21 +48,17 @@ public class SyncParameterTests {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/syncBadParamsNoSyncWithPeer.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            assertEquals("validation error(s) on parameters from "
-                    + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/syncBadParamsNoSyncWithPeer.json\"\n"
-                    + "parameter group \"APEX_PARAMETERS\" type "
-                    + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters\" INVALID, "
-                    + "parameter group has status INVALID\n"
-                    + "  parameter group map \"eventOutputParameters\" INVALID, "
-                    + "parameter group map has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"SyncProducer0\" type "
-                    + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
-                    + ", specified peered mode \"SYNCHRONOUS\" "
-                    + "peer is illegal on eventOutputParameters \"SyncProducer0\" \n", e.getMessage());
-        }
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments))
+            .hasMessage("validation error(s) on parameters from "
+                + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/syncBadParamsNoSyncWithPeer.json\"\n"
+                + "parameter group \"APEX_PARAMETERS\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters\" INVALID, "
+                + "parameter group has status INVALID\n"
+                + "  parameter group map \"eventOutputParameters\" INVALID, "
+                + "parameter group map has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"SyncProducer0\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
+                + ", specified peered mode \"SYNCHRONOUS\" "
+                + "peer is illegal on eventOutputParameters \"SyncProducer0\" \n");
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -70,21 +66,17 @@ public class SyncParameterTests {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/syncBadParamsNotSyncWithPeer.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            assertEquals("validation error(s) on parameters from "
-                    + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/syncBadParamsNotSyncWithPeer.json\"\n"
-                    + "parameter group \"APEX_PARAMETERS\" type "
-                    + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters\" INVALID, "
-                    + "parameter group has status INVALID\n"
-                    + "  parameter group map \"eventOutputParameters\" INVALID, "
-                    + "parameter group map has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"SyncProducer0\" type "
-                    + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
-                    + ", specified peered mode \"SYNCHRONOUS\" peer is illegal "
-                    + "on eventOutputParameters \"SyncProducer0\" \n", e.getMessage());
-        }
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments))
+            .hasMessage("validation error(s) on parameters from "
+                + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/syncBadParamsNotSyncWithPeer.json\"\n"
+                + "parameter group \"APEX_PARAMETERS\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters\" INVALID, "
+                + "parameter group has status INVALID\n"
+                + "  parameter group map \"eventOutputParameters\" INVALID, "
+                + "parameter group map has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"SyncProducer0\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
+                + ", specified peered mode \"SYNCHRONOUS\" peer is illegal "
+                + "on eventOutputParameters \"SyncProducer0\" \n");
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -92,32 +84,28 @@ public class SyncParameterTests {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/syncBadParamsBadPeers.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            assertEquals("validation error(s) on parameters from "
-                    + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/syncBadParamsBadPeers.json\"\n"
-                    + "parameter group \"APEX_PARAMETERS\" type "
-                    + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters\" INVALID, "
-                    + "parameter group has status INVALID\n"
-                    + "  parameter group map \"eventOutputParameters\" INVALID, "
-                    + "parameter group map has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"SyncProducer0\" type "
-                    + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
-                    + ", peer \"SyncProducer1 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS does not exist "
-                    + "or is not defined with the same peered mode\n" + "    parameter group \"SyncProducer1\" type "
-                    + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
-                    + ", peer \"SyncProducer0 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS does not exist "
-                    + "or is not defined with the same peered mode\n"
-                    + "  parameter group map \"eventInputParameters\" INVALID, "
-                    + "parameter group map has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"SyncConsumer0\" type "
-                    + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
-                    + ", peer \"SyncConsumer1 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS does not exist "
-                    + "or is not defined with the same peered mode\n" + "    parameter group \"SyncConsumer1\" type "
-                    + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
-                    + ", peer \"SyncConsumer0 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS does not exist "
-                    + "or is not defined with the same peered mode\n", e.getMessage());
-        }
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments))
+            .hasMessage("validation error(s) on parameters from "
+                + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/syncBadParamsBadPeers.json\"\n"
+                + "parameter group \"APEX_PARAMETERS\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters\" INVALID, "
+                + "parameter group has status INVALID\n"
+                + "  parameter group map \"eventOutputParameters\" INVALID, "
+                + "parameter group map has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"SyncProducer0\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
+                + ", peer \"SyncProducer1 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS does not exist "
+                + "or is not defined with the same peered mode\n" + "    parameter group \"SyncProducer1\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
+                + ", peer \"SyncProducer0 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS does not exist "
+                + "or is not defined with the same peered mode\n"
+                + "  parameter group map \"eventInputParameters\" INVALID, "
+                + "parameter group map has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"SyncConsumer0\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
+                + ", peer \"SyncConsumer1 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS does not exist "
+                + "or is not defined with the same peered mode\n" + "    parameter group \"SyncConsumer1\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
+                + ", peer \"SyncConsumer0 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS does not exist "
+                + "or is not defined with the same peered mode\n");
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -125,34 +113,30 @@ public class SyncParameterTests {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/syncBadParamsInvalidTimeout.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            assertEquals("validation error(s) on parameters from "
-                    + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/syncBadParamsInvalidTimeout.json\"\n"
-                    + "parameter group \"APEX_PARAMETERS\" type "
-                    + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters\" INVALID, "
-                    + "parameter group has status INVALID\n"
-                    + "  parameter group map \"eventOutputParameters\" INVALID, "
-                    + "parameter group map has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"SyncProducer0\" type "
-                    + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID,"
-                    + " specified peered mode \"SYNCHRONOUS\" timeout value \"-10\" is illegal, "
-                    + "specify a non-negative timeout value in milliseconds\n"
-                    + "    parameter group \"SyncProducer1\" type "
-                    + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" "
-                    + "INVALID, specified peered mode \"SYNCHRONOUS\" timeout value \"-3\" is illegal, "
-                    + "specify a non-negative timeout value in milliseconds\n"
-                    + "  parameter group map \"eventInputParameters\" INVALID, "
-                    + "parameter group map has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"SyncConsumer0\" type "
-                    + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" "
-                    + "INVALID, specified peered mode \"SYNCHRONOUS\" timeout value \"-1\" is illegal, "
-                    + "specify a non-negative timeout value in milliseconds\n"
-                    + "    parameter group \"SyncConsumer1\" type "
-                    + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID,"
-                    + " specified peered mode \"SYNCHRONOUS\" timeout value \"-99999999\" is illegal, "
-                    + "specify a non-negative timeout value in milliseconds\n", e.getMessage());
-        }
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments))
+            .hasMessage("validation error(s) on parameters from "
+                + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/syncBadParamsInvalidTimeout.json\"\n"
+                + "parameter group \"APEX_PARAMETERS\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters\" INVALID, "
+                + "parameter group has status INVALID\n"
+                + "  parameter group map \"eventOutputParameters\" INVALID, "
+                + "parameter group map has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"SyncProducer0\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID,"
+                + " specified peered mode \"SYNCHRONOUS\" timeout value \"-10\" is illegal, "
+                + "specify a non-negative timeout value in milliseconds\n"
+                + "    parameter group \"SyncProducer1\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" "
+                + "INVALID, specified peered mode \"SYNCHRONOUS\" timeout value \"-3\" is illegal, "
+                + "specify a non-negative timeout value in milliseconds\n"
+                + "  parameter group map \"eventInputParameters\" INVALID, "
+                + "parameter group map has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"SyncConsumer0\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" "
+                + "INVALID, specified peered mode \"SYNCHRONOUS\" timeout value \"-1\" is illegal, "
+                + "specify a non-negative timeout value in milliseconds\n"
+                + "    parameter group \"SyncConsumer1\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID,"
+                + " specified peered mode \"SYNCHRONOUS\" timeout value \"-99999999\" is illegal, "
+                + "specify a non-negative timeout value in milliseconds\n");
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -160,21 +144,17 @@ public class SyncParameterTests {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/syncBadParamsBadTimeout.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            assertEquals("validation error(s) on parameters from "
-                    + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/syncBadParamsBadTimeout.json\"\n"
-                    + "parameter group \"APEX_PARAMETERS\" type "
-                    + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters\" "
-                    + "INVALID, parameter group has status INVALID\n"
-                    + "  parameter group map \"eventOutputParameters\" INVALID, "
-                    + "parameter group map has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"MyOtherProducer\" type "
-                    + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" "
-                    + "INVALID, specified peered mode \"SYNCHRONOUS\" "
-                    + "timeout is illegal on eventOutputParameters \"MyOtherProducer\"\n", e.getMessage());
-        }
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments))
+            .hasMessage("validation error(s) on parameters from "
+                + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/syncBadParamsBadTimeout.json\"\n"
+                + "parameter group \"APEX_PARAMETERS\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters\" "
+                + "INVALID, parameter group has status INVALID\n"
+                + "  parameter group map \"eventOutputParameters\" INVALID, "
+                + "parameter group map has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"MyOtherProducer\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" "
+                + "INVALID, specified peered mode \"SYNCHRONOUS\" "
+                + "timeout is illegal on eventOutputParameters \"MyOtherProducer\"\n");
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -182,36 +162,30 @@ public class SyncParameterTests {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/syncBadParamsUnpairedTimeout.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            assertEquals(
-                    "validation error(s) on parameters from "
-                            + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/syncBadParamsUnpairedTimeout.json\"\n"
-                            + "parameter group \"APEX_PARAMETERS\" type "
-                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters\" INVALID, "
-                            + "parameter group has status INVALID\n"
-                            + "  parameter group map \"eventOutputParameters\" INVALID, "
-                            + "parameter group map has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"SyncProducer0\" type "
-                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
-                            + ", peer \"SyncConsumer0 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS timeout 10 on event handler "
-                            + "\"SyncProducer0\" does not equal timeout 1 on event handler \"SyncConsumer0\"\n"
-                            + "    parameter group \"SyncProducer1\" type "
-                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
-                            + ", peer \"SyncConsumer1 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS timeout 3 on event handler "
-                            + "\"SyncProducer1\" does not equal timeout 99999999 on event handler \"SyncConsumer1\"\n"
-                            + "  parameter group map \"eventInputParameters\" INVALID, "
-                            + "parameter group map has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"SyncConsumer0\" type "
-                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
-                            + ", peer \"SyncProducer0 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS timeout 1 on event handler "
-                            + "\"SyncConsumer0\" does not equal timeout 10 on event handler \"SyncProducer0\"\n"
-                            + "    parameter group \"SyncConsumer1\" type "
-                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
-                            + ", peer \"SyncProducer1 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS timeout 99999999 on event handler "
-                            + "\"SyncConsumer1\" does not equal timeout 3 on event handler \"SyncProducer1\"\n" + "",
-                    e.getMessage());
-        }
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments))
+            .hasMessage("validation error(s) on parameters from "
+                + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/syncBadParamsUnpairedTimeout.json\"\n"
+                + "parameter group \"APEX_PARAMETERS\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters\" INVALID, "
+                + "parameter group has status INVALID\n"
+                + "  parameter group map \"eventOutputParameters\" INVALID, "
+                + "parameter group map has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"SyncProducer0\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
+                + ", peer \"SyncConsumer0 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS timeout 10 on event handler "
+                + "\"SyncProducer0\" does not equal timeout 1 on event handler \"SyncConsumer0\"\n"
+                + "    parameter group \"SyncProducer1\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
+                + ", peer \"SyncConsumer1 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS timeout 3 on event handler "
+                + "\"SyncProducer1\" does not equal timeout 99999999 on event handler \"SyncConsumer1\"\n"
+                + "  parameter group map \"eventInputParameters\" INVALID, "
+                + "parameter group map has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"SyncConsumer0\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
+                + ", peer \"SyncProducer0 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS timeout 1 on event handler "
+                + "\"SyncConsumer0\" does not equal timeout 10 on event handler \"SyncProducer0\"\n"
+                + "    parameter group \"SyncConsumer1\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
+                + ", peer \"SyncProducer1 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS timeout 99999999 on event handler "
+                + "\"SyncConsumer1\" does not equal timeout 3 on event handler \"SyncProducer1\"\n" + "");
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -219,19 +193,16 @@ public class SyncParameterTests {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/syncGoodParamsProducerTimeout.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            final ApexParameters parameters = new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            assertEquals(12345, parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("SyncConsumer0")
-                    .getPeerTimeout(EventHandlerPeeredMode.SYNCHRONOUS));
-            assertEquals(1, parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("SyncConsumer1")
-                    .getPeerTimeout(EventHandlerPeeredMode.SYNCHRONOUS));
-            assertEquals(12345, parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("SyncProducer0")
-                    .getPeerTimeout(EventHandlerPeeredMode.SYNCHRONOUS));
-            assertEquals(1, parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("SyncProducer1")
-                    .getPeerTimeout(EventHandlerPeeredMode.SYNCHRONOUS));
-        } catch (final Exception e) {
-            fail("This test should not throw an exception");
-        }
+        final ApexParameters parameters = new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
+        assertEquals(12345, parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("SyncConsumer0")
+                .getPeerTimeout(EventHandlerPeeredMode.SYNCHRONOUS));
+        assertEquals(1, parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("SyncConsumer1")
+                .getPeerTimeout(EventHandlerPeeredMode.SYNCHRONOUS));
+        assertEquals(12345, parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("SyncProducer0")
+                .getPeerTimeout(EventHandlerPeeredMode.SYNCHRONOUS));
+        assertEquals(1, parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("SyncProducer1")
+                .getPeerTimeout(EventHandlerPeeredMode.SYNCHRONOUS));
+
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -239,19 +210,16 @@ public class SyncParameterTests {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/syncGoodParamsConsumerTimeout.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            final ApexParameters parameters = new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            assertEquals(12345, parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("SyncConsumer0")
-                    .getPeerTimeout(EventHandlerPeeredMode.SYNCHRONOUS));
-            assertEquals(1, parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("SyncConsumer1")
-                    .getPeerTimeout(EventHandlerPeeredMode.SYNCHRONOUS));
-            assertEquals(12345, parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("SyncProducer0")
-                    .getPeerTimeout(EventHandlerPeeredMode.SYNCHRONOUS));
-            assertEquals(1, parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("SyncProducer1")
-                    .getPeerTimeout(EventHandlerPeeredMode.SYNCHRONOUS));
-        } catch (final Exception e) {
-            fail("This test should not throw an exception");
-        }
+        final ApexParameters parameters = new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
+        assertEquals(12345, parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("SyncConsumer0")
+                .getPeerTimeout(EventHandlerPeeredMode.SYNCHRONOUS));
+        assertEquals(1, parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("SyncConsumer1")
+                .getPeerTimeout(EventHandlerPeeredMode.SYNCHRONOUS));
+        assertEquals(12345, parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("SyncProducer0")
+                .getPeerTimeout(EventHandlerPeeredMode.SYNCHRONOUS));
+        assertEquals(1, parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("SyncProducer1")
+                .getPeerTimeout(EventHandlerPeeredMode.SYNCHRONOUS));
+
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -259,19 +227,16 @@ public class SyncParameterTests {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/syncGoodParamsBothTimeout.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            final ApexParameters parameters = new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            assertEquals(12345, parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("SyncConsumer0")
-                    .getPeerTimeout(EventHandlerPeeredMode.SYNCHRONOUS));
-            assertEquals(1, parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("SyncConsumer1")
-                    .getPeerTimeout(EventHandlerPeeredMode.SYNCHRONOUS));
-            assertEquals(12345, parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("SyncProducer0")
-                    .getPeerTimeout(EventHandlerPeeredMode.SYNCHRONOUS));
-            assertEquals(1, parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("SyncProducer1")
-                    .getPeerTimeout(EventHandlerPeeredMode.SYNCHRONOUS));
-        } catch (final Exception e) {
-            fail("This test should not throw an exception");
-        }
+        final ApexParameters parameters = new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
+        assertEquals(12345, parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("SyncConsumer0")
+                .getPeerTimeout(EventHandlerPeeredMode.SYNCHRONOUS));
+        assertEquals(1, parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("SyncConsumer1")
+                .getPeerTimeout(EventHandlerPeeredMode.SYNCHRONOUS));
+        assertEquals(12345, parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("SyncProducer0")
+                .getPeerTimeout(EventHandlerPeeredMode.SYNCHRONOUS));
+        assertEquals(1, parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("SyncProducer1")
+                .getPeerTimeout(EventHandlerPeeredMode.SYNCHRONOUS));
+
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -279,28 +244,24 @@ public class SyncParameterTests {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/syncUnusedConsumerPeers.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            assertEquals("validation error(s) on parameters from "
-                    + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/syncUnusedConsumerPeers.json\"\n"
-                    + "parameter group \"APEX_PARAMETERS\" type "
-                    + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters\" INVALID, "
-                    + "parameter group has status INVALID\n"
-                    + "  parameter group map \"eventOutputParameters\" INVALID, "
-                    + "parameter group map has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"SyncProducer1\" type "
-                    + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" "
-                    + "INVALID, peer \"SyncConsumer0 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS, "
-                    + "value \"SyncProducer0\" on peer \"SyncConsumer0\" "
-                    + "does not equal event handler \"SyncProducer1\"\n"
-                    + "  parameter group map \"eventInputParameters\" INVALID, "
-                    + "parameter group map has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"SyncConsumer1\" type "
-                    + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" "
-                    + "INVALID, peer \"SyncProducer1 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS, "
-                    + "value \"SyncConsumer0\" on peer \"SyncProducer1\" "
-                    + "does not equal event handler \"SyncConsumer1\"\n", e.getMessage());
-        }
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments))
+            .hasMessage("validation error(s) on parameters from "
+                + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/syncUnusedConsumerPeers.json\"\n"
+                + "parameter group \"APEX_PARAMETERS\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters\" INVALID, "
+                + "parameter group has status INVALID\n"
+                + "  parameter group map \"eventOutputParameters\" INVALID, "
+                + "parameter group map has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"SyncProducer1\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" "
+                + "INVALID, peer \"SyncConsumer0 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS, "
+                + "value \"SyncProducer0\" on peer \"SyncConsumer0\" "
+                + "does not equal event handler \"SyncProducer1\"\n"
+                + "  parameter group map \"eventInputParameters\" INVALID, "
+                + "parameter group map has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"SyncConsumer1\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" "
+                + "INVALID, peer \"SyncProducer1 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS, "
+                + "value \"SyncConsumer0\" on peer \"SyncProducer1\" "
+                + "does not equal event handler \"SyncConsumer1\"\n");
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -308,36 +269,30 @@ public class SyncParameterTests {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/syncMismatchedPeers.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            assertEquals(
-                    "validation error(s) on parameters from "
-                            + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/syncMismatchedPeers.json\"\n"
-                            + "parameter group \"APEX_PARAMETERS\" type "
-                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters\" INVALID, "
-                            + "parameter group has status INVALID\n"
-                            + "  parameter group map \"eventOutputParameters\" INVALID, "
-                            + "parameter group map has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"SyncProducer0\" type "
-                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
-                            + ", peer \"SyncConsumer1 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS, value \"SyncProducer1\" "
-                            + "on peer \"SyncConsumer1\" does not equal event handler \"SyncProducer0\"\n"
-                            + "    parameter group \"SyncProducer1\" type "
-                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
-                            + ", peer \"SyncConsumer0 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS, value \"SyncProducer0\" "
-                            + "on peer \"SyncConsumer0\" does not equal event handler \"SyncProducer1\"\n"
-                            + "  parameter group map \"eventInputParameters\" INVALID, "
-                            + "parameter group map has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"SyncConsumer0\" type "
-                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
-                            + ", peer \"SyncProducer0 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS, value \"SyncConsumer1\" "
-                            + "on peer \"SyncProducer0\" does not equal event handler \"SyncConsumer0\"\n"
-                            + "    parameter group \"SyncConsumer1\" type "
-                            + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
-                            + ", peer \"SyncProducer1 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS, value \"SyncConsumer0\" "
-                            + "on peer \"SyncProducer1\" does not equal event handler \"SyncConsumer1\"\n",
-                    e.getMessage());
-        }
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments))
+            .hasMessage("validation error(s) on parameters from "
+                + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/syncMismatchedPeers.json\"\n"
+                + "parameter group \"APEX_PARAMETERS\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters\" INVALID, "
+                + "parameter group has status INVALID\n"
+                + "  parameter group map \"eventOutputParameters\" INVALID, "
+                + "parameter group map has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"SyncProducer0\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
+                + ", peer \"SyncConsumer1 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS, value \"SyncProducer1\" "
+                + "on peer \"SyncConsumer1\" does not equal event handler \"SyncProducer0\"\n"
+                + "    parameter group \"SyncProducer1\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
+                + ", peer \"SyncConsumer0 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS, value \"SyncProducer0\" "
+                + "on peer \"SyncConsumer0\" does not equal event handler \"SyncProducer1\"\n"
+                + "  parameter group map \"eventInputParameters\" INVALID, "
+                + "parameter group map has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"SyncConsumer0\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
+                + ", peer \"SyncProducer0 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS, value \"SyncConsumer1\" "
+                + "on peer \"SyncProducer0\" does not equal event handler \"SyncConsumer0\"\n"
+                + "    parameter group \"SyncConsumer1\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
+                + ", peer \"SyncProducer1 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS, value \"SyncConsumer0\" "
+                + "on peer \"SyncProducer1\" does not equal event handler \"SyncConsumer1\"\n");
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -345,26 +300,22 @@ public class SyncParameterTests {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/syncUnusedProducerPeers.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            assertEquals("validation error(s) on parameters from "
-                    + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/syncUnusedProducerPeers.json\"\n"
-                    + "parameter group \"APEX_PARAMETERS\" type "
-                    + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters\" INVALID, "
-                    + "parameter group has status INVALID\n"
-                    + "  parameter group map \"eventOutputParameters\" INVALID, "
-                    + "parameter group map has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"SyncProducer0\" type "
-                    + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
-                    + ", peer \"SyncConsumer0 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS, value \"SyncProducer1\" on peer "
-                    + "\"SyncConsumer0\" does not equal event handler \"SyncProducer0\"\n"
-                    + "  parameter group map \"eventInputParameters\" INVALID, parameter group map has status "
-                    + "INVALID\n    parameter group \"SyncConsumer0\" type "
-                    + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
-                    + ", peer \"SyncProducer1 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS, value \"SyncConsumer1\" on peer "
-                    + "\"SyncProducer1\" does not equal event handler \"SyncConsumer0\"\n", e.getMessage());
-        }
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments))
+            .hasMessage("validation error(s) on parameters from "
+                + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/syncUnusedProducerPeers.json\"\n"
+                + "parameter group \"APEX_PARAMETERS\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters\" INVALID, "
+                + "parameter group has status INVALID\n"
+                + "  parameter group map \"eventOutputParameters\" INVALID, "
+                + "parameter group map has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"SyncProducer0\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
+                + ", peer \"SyncConsumer0 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS, value \"SyncProducer1\" on peer "
+                + "\"SyncConsumer0\" does not equal event handler \"SyncProducer0\"\n"
+                + "  parameter group map \"eventInputParameters\" INVALID, parameter group map has status "
+                + "INVALID\n    parameter group \"SyncConsumer0\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID"
+                + ", peer \"SyncProducer1 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS, value \"SyncConsumer1\" on peer "
+                + "\"SyncProducer1\" does not equal event handler \"SyncConsumer0\"\n");
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -372,100 +323,92 @@ public class SyncParameterTests {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/syncMismatchedTimeout.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            fail("This test should throw an exception");
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            assertEquals("validation error(s) on parameters from "
-                    + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/syncMismatchedTimeout.json\"\n"
-                    + "parameter group \"APEX_PARAMETERS\" type "
-                    + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters\" INVALID, "
-                    + "parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "  parameter group map \"eventOutputParameters\" "
-                    + "INVALID, parameter group map has status INVALID\n"
-                    + "    parameter group \"SyncProducer1\" type "
-                    + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID,"
-                    + " peer \"SyncConsumer1 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS timeout 456 "
-                    + "on event handler \"SyncProducer1\" does not equal timeout 123 "
-                    + "on event handler \"SyncConsumer1\"\n"
-                    + "  parameter group map \"eventInputParameters\" INVALID, "
-                    + "parameter group map has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"SyncConsumer1\" type "
-                    + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID,"
-                    + " peer \"SyncProducer1 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS timeout 123 "
-                    + "on event handler \"SyncConsumer1\" does not equal timeout 456 "
-                    + "on event handler \"SyncProducer1\"\n", e.getMessage());
-        }
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments))
+            .hasMessage("validation error(s) on parameters from "
+                + "\"src/test/resources/parameters/syncMismatchedTimeout.json\"\n"
+                + "parameter group \"APEX_PARAMETERS\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.ApexParameters\" INVALID, "
+                + "parameter group has status INVALID\n" + "  parameter group map \"eventOutputParameters\" "
+                + "INVALID, parameter group map has status INVALID\n"
+                + "    parameter group \"SyncProducer1\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID,"
+                + " peer \"SyncConsumer1 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS timeout 456 "
+                + "on event handler \"SyncProducer1\" does not equal timeout 123 "
+                + "on event handler \"SyncConsumer1\"\n"
+                + "  parameter group map \"eventInputParameters\" INVALID, "
+                + "parameter group map has status INVALID\n" + "    parameter group \"SyncConsumer1\" type "
+                + "\"org.onap.policy.apex.service.parameters.eventhandler.EventHandlerParameters\" INVALID,"
+                + " peer \"SyncProducer1 for peered mode SYNCHRONOUS timeout 123 "
+                + "on event handler \"SyncConsumer1\" does not equal timeout 456 "
+                + "on event handler \"SyncProducer1\"\n");
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void testSyncGoodParametersTest() {
+    public void testSyncGoodParametersTest() throws ParameterException {
         final String[] args = {"-c", "src/test/resources/parameters/syncGoodParams.json"};
         final ApexCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexCommandLineArguments(args);
 
-        try {
-            final ApexParameters parameters = new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-
-            assertEquals("MyApexEngine", parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getName());
-            assertEquals("0.0.1", parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getVersion());
-            assertEquals(45, parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getId());
-            assertEquals(19, parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getInstanceCount());
-            assertEquals(65522, parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getDeploymentPort());
-
-            final CarrierTechnologyParameters prodCT0 =
-                    parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("SyncProducer0").getCarrierTechnologyParameters();
-            final EventProtocolParameters prodEP0 =
-                    parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("SyncProducer0").getEventProtocolParameters();
-            final CarrierTechnologyParameters consCT0 =
-                    parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("SyncConsumer0").getCarrierTechnologyParameters();
-            final EventProtocolParameters consEP0 =
-                    parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("SyncConsumer0").getEventProtocolParameters();
-            final CarrierTechnologyParameters prodCT1 =
-                    parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("SyncProducer1").getCarrierTechnologyParameters();
-            final EventProtocolParameters prodEP1 =
-                    parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("SyncProducer1").getEventProtocolParameters();
-            final CarrierTechnologyParameters consCT1 =
-                    parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("SyncConsumer1").getCarrierTechnologyParameters();
-            final EventProtocolParameters consEP1 =
-                    parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("SyncConsumer1").getEventProtocolParameters();
-
-            assertEquals("FILE", prodCT0.getLabel());
-            assertEquals("JSON", prodEP0.getLabel());
-            assertEquals("FILE", consCT0.getLabel());
-            assertEquals("JSON", consEP0.getLabel());
-            assertEquals("FILE", prodCT1.getLabel());
-            assertEquals("JSON", prodEP1.getLabel());
-            assertEquals("SUPER_DOOPER", consCT1.getLabel());
-            assertEquals("SUPER_TOK_DEL", consEP1.getLabel());
-
-            assertTrue(consCT1 instanceof SuperDooperCarrierTechnologyParameters);
-            assertTrue(consEP1 instanceof SuperTokenDelimitedEventProtocolParameters);
-
-            final SuperDooperCarrierTechnologyParameters superDooperParameters =
-                    (SuperDooperCarrierTechnologyParameters) consCT1;
-            assertEquals("localhost:9092", superDooperParameters.getBootstrapServers());
-            assertEquals("all", superDooperParameters.getAcks());
-            assertEquals(0, superDooperParameters.getRetries());
-            assertEquals(16384, superDooperParameters.getBatchSize());
-            assertEquals(1, superDooperParameters.getLingerTime());
-            assertEquals(33554432, superDooperParameters.getBufferMemory());
-            assertEquals("default-group-id", superDooperParameters.getGroupId());
-            assertTrue(superDooperParameters.isEnableAutoCommit());
-            assertEquals(1000, superDooperParameters.getAutoCommitTime());
-            assertEquals(30000, superDooperParameters.getSessionTimeout());
-            assertEquals("apex-out", superDooperParameters.getProducerTopic());
-            assertEquals(100, superDooperParameters.getConsumerPollTime());
-            assertEquals("org.apache.superDooper.common.serialization.StringSerializer",
-                    superDooperParameters.getKeySerializer());
-            assertEquals("org.apache.superDooper.common.serialization.StringSerializer",
-                    superDooperParameters.getValueSerializer());
-            assertEquals("org.apache.superDooper.common.serialization.StringDeserializer",
-                    superDooperParameters.getKeyDeserializer());
-            assertEquals("org.apache.superDooper.common.serialization.StringDeserializer",
-                    superDooperParameters.getValueDeserializer());
-
-            final String[] consumerTopics = {"apex-in"};
-            assertEquals(Arrays.asList(consumerTopics), superDooperParameters.getConsumerTopicList());
-        } catch (final ParameterException e) {
-            fail("This test should not throw an exception");
-        }
+        final ApexParameters parameters = new ApexParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
+
+        assertEquals("MyApexEngine", parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getName());
+        assertEquals("0.0.1", parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getVersion());
+        assertEquals(45, parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getId());
+        assertEquals(19, parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getInstanceCount());
+        assertEquals(65522, parameters.getEngineServiceParameters().getDeploymentPort());
+
+        final CarrierTechnologyParameters prodCT0 =
+                parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("SyncProducer0").getCarrierTechnologyParameters();
+        final EventProtocolParameters prodEP0 =
+                parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("SyncProducer0").getEventProtocolParameters();
+        final CarrierTechnologyParameters consCT0 =
+                parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("SyncConsumer0").getCarrierTechnologyParameters();
+        final EventProtocolParameters consEP0 =
+                parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("SyncConsumer0").getEventProtocolParameters();
+        final CarrierTechnologyParameters prodCT1 =
+                parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("SyncProducer1").getCarrierTechnologyParameters();
+        final EventProtocolParameters prodEP1 =
+                parameters.getEventOutputParameters().get("SyncProducer1").getEventProtocolParameters();
+        final CarrierTechnologyParameters consCT1 =
+                parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("SyncConsumer1").getCarrierTechnologyParameters();
+        final EventProtocolParameters consEP1 =
+                parameters.getEventInputParameters().get("SyncConsumer1").getEventProtocolParameters();
+
+        assertEquals("FILE", prodCT0.getLabel());
+        assertEquals("JSON", prodEP0.getLabel());
+        assertEquals("FILE", consCT0.getLabel());
+        assertEquals("JSON", consEP0.getLabel());
+        assertEquals("FILE", prodCT1.getLabel());
+        assertEquals("JSON", prodEP1.getLabel());
+        assertEquals("SUPER_DOOPER", consCT1.getLabel());
+        assertEquals("SUPER_TOK_DEL", consEP1.getLabel());
+
+        assertTrue(consCT1 instanceof SuperDooperCarrierTechnologyParameters);
+        assertTrue(consEP1 instanceof SuperTokenDelimitedEventProtocolParameters);
+
+        final SuperDooperCarrierTechnologyParameters superDooperParameters =
+                (SuperDooperCarrierTechnologyParameters) consCT1;
+        assertEquals("localhost:9092", superDooperParameters.getBootstrapServers());
+        assertEquals("all", superDooperParameters.getAcks());
+        assertEquals(0, superDooperParameters.getRetries());
+        assertEquals(16384, superDooperParameters.getBatchSize());
+        assertEquals(1, superDooperParameters.getLingerTime());
+        assertEquals(33554432, superDooperParameters.getBufferMemory());
+        assertEquals("default-group-id", superDooperParameters.getGroupId());
+        assertTrue(superDooperParameters.isEnableAutoCommit());
+        assertEquals(1000, superDooperParameters.getAutoCommitTime());
+        assertEquals(30000, superDooperParameters.getSessionTimeout());
+        assertEquals("apex-out", superDooperParameters.getProducerTopic());
+        assertEquals(100, superDooperParameters.getConsumerPollTime());
+        assertEquals("org.apache.superDooper.common.serialization.StringSerializer",
+                superDooperParameters.getKeySerializer());
+        assertEquals("org.apache.superDooper.common.serialization.StringSerializer",
+                superDooperParameters.getValueSerializer());
+        assertEquals("org.apache.superDooper.common.serialization.StringDeserializer",
+                superDooperParameters.getKeyDeserializer());
+        assertEquals("org.apache.superDooper.common.serialization.StringDeserializer",
+                superDooperParameters.getValueDeserializer());
+
+        final String[] consumerTopics = {"apex-in"};
+        assertEquals(Arrays.asList(consumerTopics), superDooperParameters.getConsumerTopicList());
     }
 }
diff --git a/services/services-onappf/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/services/onappf/parameters/TestApexStarterParameterHandler.java b/services/services-onappf/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/services/onappf/parameters/TestApexStarterParameterHandler.java
index 4b79dc589..d39cbecf0 100644
--- a/services/services-onappf/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/services/onappf/parameters/TestApexStarterParameterHandler.java
+++ b/services/services-onappf/src/test/java/org/onap/policy/apex/services/onappf/parameters/TestApexStarterParameterHandler.java
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 /*-
  * ============LICENSE_START=======================================================
  *  Copyright (C) 2019 Nordix Foundation.
+ *  Modifications Copyright (C) 2020 Nordix Foundation
  * ================================================================================
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -20,9 +21,9 @@
 
 package org.onap.policy.apex.services.onappf.parameters;
 
+import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThatThrownBy;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertTrue;
-import static org.junit.Assert.fail;
 
 import java.io.FileNotFoundException;
 import org.junit.Test;
@@ -44,13 +45,9 @@ public class TestApexStarterParameterHandler {
         final ApexStarterCommandLineArguments emptyArguments = new ApexStarterCommandLineArguments();
         emptyArguments.parse(emptyArgumentString);
 
-        try {
-            new ApexStarterParameterHandler().getParameters(emptyArguments);
-            fail("test should throw an exception here");
-        } catch (final Exception e) {
-            assertTrue(e.getCause() instanceof CoderException);
-            assertTrue(e.getCause().getCause() instanceof FileNotFoundException);
-        }
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> new ApexStarterParameterHandler().getParameters(emptyArguments))
+            .hasCauseInstanceOf(CoderException.class)
+            .hasRootCauseInstanceOf(FileNotFoundException.class);
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -60,12 +57,8 @@ public class TestApexStarterParameterHandler {
         final ApexStarterCommandLineArguments noArguments = new ApexStarterCommandLineArguments();
         noArguments.parse(noArgumentString);
 
-        try {
-            new ApexStarterParameterHandler().getParameters(noArguments);
-            fail("test should throw an exception here");
-        } catch (final Exception e) {
-            assertTrue(e.getMessage().contains("no parameters found"));
-        }
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> new ApexStarterParameterHandler().getParameters(noArguments))
+            .hasMessageContaining("no parameters found");
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -75,13 +68,9 @@ public class TestApexStarterParameterHandler {
         final ApexStarterCommandLineArguments invalidArguments = new ApexStarterCommandLineArguments();
         invalidArguments.parse(invalidArgumentString);
 
-        try {
-            new ApexStarterParameterHandler().getParameters(invalidArguments);
-            fail("test should throw an exception here");
-        } catch (final Exception e) {
-            assertTrue(e.getMessage().startsWith("error reading parameters from"));
-            assertTrue(e.getCause() instanceof CoderException);
-        }
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> new ApexStarterParameterHandler().getParameters(invalidArguments))
+            .hasMessageStartingWith("error reading parameters from")
+            .hasCauseInstanceOf(CoderException.class);
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -91,11 +80,8 @@ public class TestApexStarterParameterHandler {
         final ApexStarterCommandLineArguments noArguments = new ApexStarterCommandLineArguments();
         noArguments.parse(noArgumentString);
 
-        try {
-            new ApexStarterParameterHandler().getParameters(noArguments);
-        } catch (final Exception e) {
-            assertTrue(e.getMessage().contains("is null"));
-        }
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> new ApexStarterParameterHandler().getParameters(noArguments))
+            .hasMessageContaining("is null");
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -118,13 +104,9 @@ public class TestApexStarterParameterHandler {
         final ApexStarterCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexStarterCommandLineArguments();
         arguments.parse(apexStarterConfigParameters);
 
-        try {
-            new ApexStarterParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments);
-            fail("test should throw an exception here");
-        } catch (final Exception e) {
-            assertTrue(e.getMessage().contains(
-                    "field \"name\" type \"java.lang.String\" value \" \" INVALID, must be a non-blank string"));
-        }
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> new ApexStarterParameterHandler().getParameters(arguments))
+            .hasMessageContaining("field \"name\" type \"java.lang.String\" value \" \" INVALID, must be a "
+                    + "non-blank string");
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -147,10 +129,7 @@ public class TestApexStarterParameterHandler {
     public void testApexStarterInvalidOption() throws ApexStarterException {
         final String[] apexStarterConfigParameters = { "-d" };
         final ApexStarterCommandLineArguments arguments = new ApexStarterCommandLineArguments();
-        try {
-            arguments.parse(apexStarterConfigParameters);
-        } catch (final Exception exp) {
-            assertTrue(exp.getMessage().startsWith("invalid command line arguments specified"));
-        }
+        assertThatThrownBy(() -> arguments.parse(apexStarterConfigParameters))
+            .hasMessageStartingWith("invalid command line arguments specified");
     }
 }