public static LocalDate parseLocalDate(final String stringDate, final String pattern) {
try {
final DateTimeFormatter dateStringFormat = DateTimeFormat.forPattern(pattern);
final DateTime dateTime = dateStringFormat.parseDateTime(stringDate);
return dateTime.toLocalDate();
} catch (final IllegalArgumentException e) {
final List<ApiParameterError> dataValidationErrors = new ArrayList<>();
final ApiParameterError error = ApiParameterError.parameterError("validation.msg.invalid.date.pattern", "The parameter date ("
+ stringDate + ") is invalid w.r.t. pattern " + pattern, "date", stringDate, pattern);
dataValidationErrors.add(error);