diff --git a/project/build.scala b/project/build.scala
index b298711a790..51d29e975e4 100644
--- a/project/build.scala
+++ b/project/build.scala
@@ -268,6 +268,7 @@ object Dependencies {
     graphite % "compile",
     datadog % "compile",
     marathonApiConsole % "compile",
+    wixAccord % "compile",
 
     // test
     Test.diffson % "test",
@@ -304,6 +305,7 @@ object Dependency {
     val Graphite = "3.1.2"
     val DataDog = "1.1.3"
     val Logback = "1.1.3"
+    val WixAccord = "0.5"
 
     // test deps versions
     val Mockito = "1.9.5"
@@ -341,6 +343,7 @@ object Dependency {
   val marathonApiConsole = "mesosphere.marathon" % "api-console" % V.MarathonApiConsole
   val graphite = "io.dropwizard.metrics" % "metrics-graphite" % V.Graphite
   val datadog = "org.coursera" % "dropwizard-metrics-datadog" % V.DataDog exclude("ch.qos.logback", "logback-classic")
+  val wixAccord = "com.wix" %% "accord-core" % V.WixAccord
 
 
   object Test {
diff --git a/src/main/java/mesosphere/marathon/api/validation/PortIndices.java b/src/main/java/mesosphere/marathon/api/validation/PortIndices.java
deleted file mode 100644
index 0e6bfa7d594..00000000000
--- a/src/main/java/mesosphere/marathon/api/validation/PortIndices.java
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,15 +0,0 @@
-package mesosphere.marathon.api.validation;
-
-import javax.validation.Constraint;
-import javax.validation.Payload;
-import java.lang.annotation.*;
-
-@Target({ ElementType.TYPE, ElementType.ANNOTATION_TYPE })
-@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
-@Constraint(validatedBy = PortIndicesValidator.class)
-@Documented
-public @interface PortIndices {
-     String message() default "Health check port indices must address an element of the ports array or container port mappings.";
-     Class<?>[] groups() default {};
-     Class<? extends Payload>[] payload() default { };
-}
diff --git a/src/main/java/mesosphere/marathon/api/validation/PortsArray.java b/src/main/java/mesosphere/marathon/api/validation/PortsArray.java
deleted file mode 100644
index 0faafed0149..00000000000
--- a/src/main/java/mesosphere/marathon/api/validation/PortsArray.java
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,26 +0,0 @@
-package mesosphere.marathon.api.validation;
-
-import java.lang.annotation.Documented;
-import java.lang.annotation.ElementType;
-import java.lang.annotation.Retention;
-import java.lang.annotation.RetentionPolicy;
-import java.lang.annotation.Target;
-
-import javax.validation.Constraint;
-import javax.validation.Payload;
-
-@Target({
-	ElementType.METHOD,
-	ElementType.FIELD,
-	ElementType.ANNOTATION_TYPE,
-	ElementType.CONSTRUCTOR,
-	ElementType.PARAMETER
-})
-@Documented
-@Constraint(validatedBy = PortsArrayValidator.class)
-@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
-public @interface PortsArray {
-	String message() default "Elements must be unique";
-	Class<?>[] groups() default {};
-	Class<? extends Payload>[] payload() default {};
-}
diff --git a/src/main/java/mesosphere/marathon/api/validation/ValidHealthCheck.java b/src/main/java/mesosphere/marathon/api/validation/ValidHealthCheck.java
deleted file mode 100644
index 7fd1e2ddfcb..00000000000
--- a/src/main/java/mesosphere/marathon/api/validation/ValidHealthCheck.java
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,15 +0,0 @@
-package mesosphere.marathon.api.validation;
-
-import javax.validation.Constraint;
-import javax.validation.Payload;
-import java.lang.annotation.*;
-
-@Target({ ElementType.TYPE, ElementType.ANNOTATION_TYPE })
-@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
-@Constraint(validatedBy = HealthCheckValidator.class)
-@Documented
-public @interface ValidHealthCheck {
-     String message() default "Health check protocol must match supplied fields.";
-     Class<?>[] groups() default {};
-     Class<? extends Payload>[] payload() default {};
-}
diff --git a/src/main/java/mesosphere/marathon/api/validation/ValidV2AppDefinition.java b/src/main/java/mesosphere/marathon/api/validation/ValidV2AppDefinition.java
deleted file mode 100644
index 895147098e7..00000000000
--- a/src/main/java/mesosphere/marathon/api/validation/ValidV2AppDefinition.java
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,15 +0,0 @@
-package mesosphere.marathon.api.validation;
-
-import javax.validation.Constraint;
-import javax.validation.Payload;
-import java.lang.annotation.*;
-
-@Target({ ElementType.TYPE, ElementType.ANNOTATION_TYPE })
-@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
-@Constraint(validatedBy = V2AppDefinitionValidator.class)
-@Documented
-public @interface ValidV2AppDefinition {
-  String message() default "AppDefinition must either contain one of 'cmd' or 'args', and/or a 'container'.";
-  Class<?>[] groups() default {};
-  Class<? extends Payload>[] payload() default {};
-}
diff --git a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/Exception.scala b/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/Exception.scala
index fa59b991bdc..fa388a80213 100644
--- a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/Exception.scala
+++ b/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/Exception.scala
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 package mesosphere.marathon
 
+import com.wix.accord.Failure
 import mesosphere.marathon.state.PathId
 
 //scalastyle:off null
@@ -29,6 +30,13 @@ case class CanceledActionException(msg: String) extends Exception(msg)
 
 case class ConflictingChangeException(msg: String) extends Exception(msg)
 
+/**
+  * Is thrown if an object validation is not successful.
+  * @param obj object which is not valid
+  * @param failure validation information kept in a Failure object
+  */
+case class ValidationFailedException(obj: Any, failure: Failure) extends Exception("Validation failed")
+
 /*
  * Task upgrade specific exceptions
  */
@@ -56,3 +64,4 @@ class ResolveArtifactsCanceledException(msg: String) extends DeploymentFailedExc
  */
 class StoreCommandFailedException(msg: String, cause: Throwable = null) extends Exception(msg, cause)
 class MigrationFailedException(msg: String, cause: Throwable = null) extends Exception(msg, cause)
+
diff --git a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/MarathonExceptionMapper.scala b/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/MarathonExceptionMapper.scala
index e835c8386d2..d8e677749be 100644
--- a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/MarathonExceptionMapper.scala
+++ b/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/MarathonExceptionMapper.scala
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 package mesosphere.marathon.api
 
-import javax.validation.{ ConstraintViolation, ConstraintViolationException }
 import javax.ws.rs.ext.{ Provider, ExceptionMapper }
 import javax.ws.rs.core.{ MediaType, Response }
 import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.JsonMappingException
@@ -8,17 +7,13 @@ import com.google.inject.Singleton
 import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory
 
 import scala.concurrent.TimeoutException
-import mesosphere.marathon.{
-  AppLockedException,
-  BadRequestException,
-  ConflictingChangeException,
-  UnknownAppException
-}
+import mesosphere.marathon.{ Exception => _, _ }
 import com.sun.jersey.api.NotFoundException
 import com.fasterxml.jackson.core.JsonParseException
 import javax.ws.rs.WebApplicationException
 import javax.ws.rs.core.Response.Status
-import play.api.libs.json.{ Json, JsObject, JsResultException }
+import play.api.libs.json.{ JsValue, Json, JsObject, JsResultException }
+import mesosphere.marathon.api.v2.Validation._
 
 @Provider
 @Singleton
@@ -45,22 +40,22 @@ class MarathonExceptionMapper extends ExceptionMapper[Exception] {
   //scalastyle:off magic.number cyclomatic.complexity
   private def statusCode(exception: Exception): Int = exception match {
     //scalastyle:off magic.number
-    case e: IllegalArgumentException     => 422 // Unprocessable entity
-    case e: TimeoutException             => 503 // Service Unavailable
-    case e: UnknownAppException          => 404 // Not found
-    case e: AppLockedException           => 409 // Conflict
-    case e: ConflictingChangeException   => 409 // Conflict
-    case e: BadRequestException          => 400 // Bad Request
-    case e: JsonParseException           => 400 // Bad Request
-    case e: JsResultException            => 400 // Bad Request
-    case e: ConstraintViolationException => 422 // Unprocessable entity
-    case e: JsonMappingException         => 400 // Bad Request
-    case e: WebApplicationException      => e.getResponse.getStatus
-    case _                               => 500 // Internal server error
+    case e: TimeoutException           => 503 // Service Unavailable
+    case e: UnknownAppException        => 404 // Not found
+    case e: AppLockedException         => 409 // Conflict
+    case e: ConflictingChangeException => 409 // Conflict
+    case e: BadRequestException        => 400 // Bad Request
+    case e: JsonParseException         => 400 // Bad Request
+    case e: JsResultException          => 400 // Bad Request
+    case e: JsonMappingException       => 400 // Bad Request
+    case e: IllegalArgumentException   => 422 // Unprocessable entity
+    case e: ValidationFailedException  => 422 // Unprocessable Entity
+    case e: WebApplicationException    => e.getResponse.getStatus
+    case _                             => 500 // Internal server error
     //scalastyle:on
   }
 
-  private def entity(exception: Exception): JsObject = exception match {
+  private def entity(exception: Exception): JsValue = exception match {
     case e: NotFoundException =>
       Json.obj("message" -> s"URI not found: ${e.getNotFoundUri.getRawPath}")
     case e: AppLockedException =>
@@ -86,19 +81,7 @@ class MarathonExceptionMapper extends ExceptionMapper[Exception] {
         "message" -> s"Invalid JSON",
         "details" -> errors
       )
-    case e: ConstraintViolationException =>
-      def violationToError(violation: ConstraintViolation[_]): JsObject = {
-        Json.obj(
-          "attribute" -> violation.getPropertyPath.toString,
-          "error" -> violation.getMessage
-        )
-      }
-
-      import scala.collection.JavaConverters._
-      Json.obj(
-        "message" -> e.getMessage,
-        "errors" -> e.getConstraintViolations.asScala.map(violationToError)
-      )
+    case ValidationFailedException(obj, failure) => Json.toJson(failure)
     case e: WebApplicationException =>
       //scalastyle:off null
       if (Status.fromStatusCode(e.getResponse.getStatus) != null) {
diff --git a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/RestResource.scala b/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/RestResource.scala
index 2aafd131325..a01e143cb7c 100644
--- a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/RestResource.scala
+++ b/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/RestResource.scala
@@ -9,7 +9,10 @@ import mesosphere.marathon.api.v2.json.Formats._
 import mesosphere.marathon.state.{ PathId, Timestamp }
 import mesosphere.marathon.upgrade.DeploymentPlan
 import play.api.libs.json.Json.JsValueWrapper
-import play.api.libs.json.{ Writes, JsArray, JsObject, Json }
+import play.api.libs.json.{ Writes, Json }
+
+import com.wix.accord._
+import mesosphere.marathon.api.v2.Validation._
 
 import scala.concurrent.{ Await, Awaitable }
 
@@ -47,4 +50,26 @@ trait RestResource {
   protected def jsonArrString(fields: JsValueWrapper*): String = Json.stringify(Json.arr(fields: _*))
 
   protected def result[T](fn: Awaitable[T]): T = Await.result(fn, config.zkTimeoutDuration)
+
+  //scalastyle:off
+  /**
+    * Checks if the implicit validator yields a valid result.
+    * @param t object to validate
+    * @param description optional description which might be injected into the failure message
+    * @param fn function to execute after successful validation
+    * @param validator validator to use
+    * @tparam T type of object
+    * @return returns a 422 response if there is a failure due to validation. Executes fn function if successful.
+    */
+  protected def withValid[T](t: T, description: Option[String] = None)(fn: T => Response)(implicit validator: Validator[T]): Response = {
+    //scalastyle:on
+    validator(t) match {
+      case f: Failure =>
+        val entity = Json.toJson(description.map(f.withDescription).getOrElse(f)).toString
+        //scalastyle:off magic.number
+        Response.status(422).entity(entity).build()
+      //scalastyle:on
+      case Success => fn(t)
+    }
+  }
 }
diff --git a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/AppsResource.scala b/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/AppsResource.scala
index 6563eeea528..a3e6c974f80 100644
--- a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/AppsResource.scala
+++ b/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/AppsResource.scala
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import java.net.URI
 import javax.inject.{ Inject, Named }
 import javax.servlet.http.{ HttpServletResponse, HttpServletRequest }
 import javax.ws.rs._
+import javax.ws.rs.core.Response.Status
 import javax.ws.rs.core.{ Context, MediaType, Response }
 
 import akka.event.EventStream
@@ -24,6 +25,8 @@ import play.api.libs.json.Json
 import scala.collection.immutable.Seq
 import scala.concurrent.Future
 
+import Validation._
+
 @Path("v2/apps")
 @Consumes(Array(MediaType.APPLICATION_JSON))
 @Produces(Array(MarathonMediaType.PREFERRED_APPLICATION_JSON))
@@ -64,26 +67,28 @@ class AppsResource @Inject() (
   def create(body: Array[Byte],
              @DefaultValue("false")@QueryParam("force") force: Boolean,
              @Context req: HttpServletRequest, @Context resp: HttpServletResponse): Response = {
-    val app = validateApp(Json.parse(body).as[V2AppDefinition].withCanonizedIds().toAppDefinition)
-    doIfAuthorized(req, resp, CreateAppOrGroup, app.id) { identity =>
-      def createOrThrow(opt: Option[AppDefinition]) = opt
-        .map(_ => throw new ConflictingChangeException(s"An app with id [${app.id}] already exists."))
-        .getOrElse(app)
-
-      val plan = result(groupManager.updateApp(app.id, createOrThrow, app.version, force))
-
-      val appWithDeployments = AppInfo(
-        app,
-        maybeCounts = Some(TaskCounts.zero),
-        maybeTasks = Some(Seq.empty),
-        maybeDeployments = Some(Seq(Identifiable(plan.id)))
-      )
-
-      maybePostEvent(req, appWithDeployments.app)
-      Response
-        .created(new URI(app.id.toString))
-        .entity(jsonString(appWithDeployments))
-        .build()
+    withValid(Json.parse(body).as[V2AppDefinition].withCanonizedIds()) { appDef =>
+      val app = appDef.toAppDefinition
+      doIfAuthorized(req, resp, CreateAppOrGroup, app.id) { identity =>
+        def createOrThrow(opt: Option[AppDefinition]) = opt
+          .map(_ => throw new ConflictingChangeException(s"An app with id [${app.id}] already exists."))
+          .getOrElse(app)
+
+        val plan = result(groupManager.updateApp(app.id, createOrThrow, app.version, force))
+
+        val appWithDeployments = AppInfo(
+          app,
+          maybeCounts = Some(TaskCounts.zero),
+          maybeTasks = Some(Seq.empty),
+          maybeDeployments = Some(Seq(Identifiable(plan.id)))
+        )
+
+        maybePostEvent(req, appWithDeployments.app)
+        Response
+          .created(new URI(app.id.toString))
+          .entity(jsonString(appWithDeployments))
+          .build()
+      }
     }
   }
 
@@ -127,18 +132,17 @@ class AppsResource @Inject() (
     @DefaultValue("false")@QueryParam("force") force: Boolean,
     @Context req: HttpServletRequest, @Context resp: HttpServletResponse): Response = {
     val appId = id.toRootPath
-    doIfAuthorized(req, resp, UpdateAppOrGroup, appId) { identity =>
-      val appUpdate = Json.parse(body).as[V2AppUpdate].copy(id = Some(appId))
-      BeanValidation.requireValid(ModelValidation.checkUpdate(appUpdate, needsId = false))
-
-      val now = clock.now()
-      val plan = result(groupManager.updateApp(appId, updateOrCreate(appId, _, appUpdate, now), now, force))
-
-      val response = plan.original.app(appId)
-        .map(_ => Response.ok())
-        .getOrElse(Response.created(new URI(appId.toString)))
-      maybePostEvent(req, plan.target.app(appId).get)
-      deploymentResult(plan, response)
+    withValid(Json.parse(body).as[V2AppUpdate].copy(id = Some(appId))) { app =>
+      doIfAuthorized(req, resp, UpdateAppOrGroup, appId) { identity =>
+        val now = clock.now()
+        val plan = result(groupManager.updateApp(appId, updateOrCreate(appId, _, app, now), now, force))
+
+        val response = plan.original.app(appId)
+          .map(_ => Response.ok())
+          .getOrElse(Response.created(new URI(appId.toString)))
+        maybePostEvent(req, plan.target.app(appId).get)
+        deploymentResult(plan, response)
+      }
     }
   }
 
@@ -147,17 +151,18 @@ class AppsResource @Inject() (
   def replaceMultiple(@DefaultValue("false")@QueryParam("force") force: Boolean,
                       body: Array[Byte],
                       @Context req: HttpServletRequest, @Context resp: HttpServletResponse): Response = {
-    val updates = Json.parse(body).as[Seq[V2AppUpdate]].map(_.withCanonizedIds())
-    BeanValidation.requireValid(ModelValidation.checkUpdates(updates))
-    doIfAuthorized(req, resp, UpdateAppOrGroup, updates.flatMap(_.id): _*) { identity =>
-      val version = clock.now()
-      def updateGroup(root: Group): Group = updates.foldLeft(root) { (group, update) =>
-        update.id match {
-          case Some(id) => group.updateApp(id, updateOrCreate(id, _, update, version), version)
-          case None     => group
+
+    withValid(Json.parse(body).as[Seq[V2AppUpdate]].map(_.withCanonizedIds())) { updates =>
+      doIfAuthorized(req, resp, UpdateAppOrGroup, updates.flatMap(_.id): _*) { identity =>
+        val version = clock.now()
+        def updateGroup(root: Group): Group = updates.foldLeft(root) { (group, update) =>
+          update.id match {
+            case Some(id) => group.updateApp(id, updateOrCreate(id, _, update, version), version)
+            case None     => group
+          }
         }
+        deploymentResult(result(groupManager.update(PathId.empty, updateGroup, version, force)))
       }
-      deploymentResult(result(groupManager.update(PathId.empty, updateGroup, version, force)))
     }
   }
 
@@ -208,8 +213,8 @@ class AppsResource @Inject() (
                              existing: Option[AppDefinition],
                              appUpdate: V2AppUpdate,
                              newVersion: Timestamp): AppDefinition = {
-    def createApp() = validateApp(appUpdate(AppDefinition(appId)))
-    def updateApp(current: AppDefinition) = validateApp(appUpdate(current))
+    def createApp() = validateOrThrow(V2AppDefinition(appUpdate(AppDefinition(appId)))).toAppDefinition
+    def updateApp(current: AppDefinition) = validateOrThrow(V2AppDefinition(appUpdate(current))).toAppDefinition
     def rollback(version: Timestamp) = service.getApp(appId, version).getOrElse(throw new UnknownAppException(appId))
     def updateOrRollback(current: AppDefinition) = appUpdate.version.map(rollback).getOrElse(updateApp(current))
 
@@ -222,13 +227,6 @@ class AppsResource @Inject() (
     }
   }
 
-  private def validateApp(app: AppDefinition): AppDefinition = {
-    BeanValidation.requireValid(ModelValidation.checkAppConstraints(V2AppDefinition(app), app.id.parent))
-    val conflicts = ModelValidation.checkAppConflicts(app, result(groupManager.rootGroup()))
-    if (conflicts.nonEmpty) throw new ConflictingChangeException(conflicts.mkString(","))
-    app
-  }
-
   private def maybePostEvent(req: HttpServletRequest, app: AppDefinition) =
     eventBus.publish(ApiPostEvent(req.getRemoteAddr, req.getRequestURI, app))
 
diff --git a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/BeanValidation.scala b/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/BeanValidation.scala
deleted file mode 100644
index fe1b66d679f..00000000000
--- a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/BeanValidation.scala
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,82 +0,0 @@
-package mesosphere.marathon.api.v2
-
-import java.lang.annotation.ElementType
-import java.util.Collections
-import javax.validation.{ ConstraintViolation, ConstraintViolationException, Validation }
-import scala.collection.JavaConverters._
-import scala.reflect.{ classTag, ClassTag }
-
-import org.hibernate.validator.internal.engine.ConstraintViolationImpl
-import org.hibernate.validator.internal.engine.path.PathImpl
-
-/**
-  * Bean validation helper trait.
-  * TODO: we should not use bean validation any longer.
-  */
-object BeanValidation {
-
-  val validator = Validation.buildDefaultValidatorFactory().getValidator
-
-  def violation[Bean: ClassTag, Prop](
-    bean: Bean,
-    prop: Prop,
-    path: String,
-    msg: String): ConstraintViolation[Bean] = {
-    //scalastyle:off null
-    ConstraintViolationImpl.forParameterValidation[Bean](
-      msg, Collections.emptyMap(), msg, classTag[Bean].runtimeClass.asInstanceOf[Class[Bean]], bean, prop, prop,
-      PathImpl.createPathFromString(path),
-      null, ElementType.FIELD, Array())
-    //scalastyle:on
-  }
-
-  def withPath[T: ClassTag](bean: T, e: ConstraintViolation[_], path: String): ConstraintViolation[T] =
-    ConstraintViolationImpl.forParameterValidation[T](
-      e.getMessageTemplate,
-      Collections.emptyMap(),
-      e.getMessage,
-      classTag[T].runtimeClass.asInstanceOf[Class[T]],
-      bean,
-      e.getLeafBean,
-      e.getInvalidValue,
-      PathImpl.createPathFromString(path + e.getPropertyPath),
-      e.getConstraintDescriptor, ElementType.FIELD, e.getExecutableParameters)
-
-  def notSet[Bean: ClassTag, Prop](bean: Bean, path: String): ConstraintViolation[Bean] = {
-    violation(bean, null, path, "Property missing which is mandatory")
-  }
-
-  def defined[Bean: ClassTag, Prop](
-    bean: Bean,
-    opt: Option[Prop],
-    path: String,
-    fn: (Bean, Prop, String) => Iterable[ConstraintViolation[Bean]],
-    mandatory: Boolean = false): Iterable[ConstraintViolation[Bean]] = {
-    opt match {
-      case Some(t)           => fn(bean, t, path)
-      case None if mandatory => List(notSet(bean, path))
-      case _                 => Nil
-    }
-  }
-
-  def isTrue[Bean: ClassTag, Prop](
-    bean: Bean,
-    prop: Prop,
-    path: String,
-    message: String,
-    assertion: => Boolean): Seq[ConstraintViolation[Bean]] =
-    if (!assertion) List(violation(bean, prop, path, message)) else Nil
-
-  def validate[T: ClassTag](
-    bean: T,
-    violationSets: Iterable[ConstraintViolation[_]]*): Iterable[ConstraintViolation[T]] = {
-    val beanErrors = validator.validate(bean).asScala
-    val result = beanErrors ++ violationSets.flatMap(identity)
-    result.map(withPath(bean, _, ""))
-  }
-
-  def requireValid[T](errors: Iterable[ConstraintViolation[T]]) {
-    if (errors.nonEmpty) throw new ConstraintViolationException("Bean is not valid", errors.toSet.asJava)
-  }
-}
-
diff --git a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/GroupsResource.scala b/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/GroupsResource.scala
index bbf849faef9..ca01e2e097f 100644
--- a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/GroupsResource.scala
+++ b/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/GroupsResource.scala
@@ -100,14 +100,14 @@ class GroupsResource @Inject() (
                      body: Array[Byte],
                      @Context req: HttpServletRequest, @Context resp: HttpServletResponse): Response = {
     doIfAuthorized(req, resp, CreateAppOrGroup, id.toRootPath) { implicit identity =>
-      val update = Json.parse(body).as[V2GroupUpdate]
-      BeanValidation.requireValid(ModelValidation.checkGroupUpdate(update, needsId = true))
-      val effectivePath = update.id.map(_.canonicalPath(id.toRootPath)).getOrElse(id.toRootPath)
-      val current = result(groupManager.rootGroup()).findGroup(_.id == effectivePath)
-      if (current.isDefined)
-        throw ConflictingChangeException(s"Group $effectivePath is already created. Use PUT to change this group.")
-      val (deployment, path, version) = updateOrCreate(id.toRootPath, update, force)
-      deploymentResult(deployment, Response.created(new URI(path.toString)))
+      withValid(Json.parse(body).as[V2GroupUpdate]) { update =>
+        val effectivePath = update.id.map(_.canonicalPath(id.toRootPath)).getOrElse(id.toRootPath)
+        val current = result(groupManager.rootGroup()).findGroup(_.id == effectivePath)
+        if (current.isDefined)
+          throw ConflictingChangeException(s"Group $effectivePath is already created. Use PUT to change this group.")
+        val (deployment, path, version) = updateOrCreate(id.toRootPath, update, force)
+        deploymentResult(deployment, Response.created(new URI(path.toString)))
+      }
     }
   }
 
@@ -136,21 +136,21 @@ class GroupsResource @Inject() (
              body: Array[Byte],
              @Context req: HttpServletRequest, @Context resp: HttpServletResponse): Response = {
     doIfAuthorized(req, resp, UpdateAppOrGroup, id.toRootPath) { implicit identity =>
-      val update = Json.parse(body).as[V2GroupUpdate]
-      BeanValidation.requireValid(ModelValidation.checkGroupUpdate(update, needsId = false))
-      if (dryRun) {
-        val planFuture = groupManager.group(id.toRootPath).map { maybeOldGroup =>
-          val oldGroup = maybeOldGroup.getOrElse(Group.empty)
-          Json.obj(
-            "steps" -> DeploymentPlan(oldGroup, update.apply(V2Group(oldGroup), Timestamp.now()).toGroup()).steps
-          )
+      withValid(Json.parse(body).as[V2GroupUpdate]) { update =>
+        if (dryRun) {
+          val planFuture = groupManager.group(id.toRootPath).map { maybeOldGroup =>
+            val oldGroup = maybeOldGroup.getOrElse(Group.empty)
+            Json.obj(
+              "steps" -> DeploymentPlan(oldGroup, update.apply(V2Group(oldGroup), Timestamp.now()).toGroup()).steps
+            )
+          }
+
+          ok(result(planFuture).toString())
+        }
+        else {
+          val (deployment, _, _) = updateOrCreate(id.toRootPath, update, force)
+          deploymentResult(deployment)
         }
-
-        ok(result(planFuture).toString())
-      }
-      else {
-        val (deployment, _, _) = updateOrCreate(id.toRootPath, update, force)
-        deploymentResult(deployment)
       }
     }
   }
diff --git a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/ModelValidation.scala b/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/ModelValidation.scala
deleted file mode 100644
index a6a6e2c0364..00000000000
--- a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/ModelValidation.scala
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,319 +0,0 @@
-package mesosphere.marathon.api.v2
-
-import java.net.{ HttpURLConnection, URL, URLConnection }
-import javax.validation.ConstraintViolation
-
-import mesosphere.marathon.api.v2.BeanValidation._
-import mesosphere.marathon.api.v2.json.{ V2AppDefinition, V2AppUpdate, V2Group, V2GroupUpdate }
-import mesosphere.marathon.state._
-
-import scala.reflect.ClassTag
-import scala.util.{ Failure, Success, Try }
-
-/**
-  * Specific validation helper for specific model classes.
-  */
-object ModelValidation {
-
-  //scalastyle:off null
-
-  /**
-    * This regular expression is used to validate each path segment of an ID.
-    *
-    * If you change this, please also change "pathType" in AppDefinition.json and
-    * notify the maintainers of the DCOS CLI.
-    */
-  private[this] val ID_PATH_SEGMENT_PATTERN =
-    "^(([a-z0-9]|[a-z0-9][a-z0-9\\-]*[a-z0-9])\\.)*([a-z0-9]|[a-z0-9][a-z0-9\\-]*[a-z0-9])|(\\.|\\.\\.)$".r
-
-  // TODO: Re-implement this method on it's own terms
-  def checkGroup(
-    group: Group,
-    path: String,
-    parent: PathId,
-    maxApps: Option[Int]): Iterable[ConstraintViolation[V2Group]] = {
-
-    val v2Group = V2Group(group)
-    val maximumApps = maxApps.filter(group.transitiveApps.size > _).map{ num =>
-      Seq(violation(v2Group, "apps", "",
-        s"This Marathon instance may only handle up to $num Apps! (Override with command line option --max_apps)"))
-    }.getOrElse(Seq.empty[ConstraintViolation[V2Group]])
-
-    checkGroup(v2Group, path, parent) ++ maximumApps
-  }
-
-  def checkGroup(
-    group: V2Group,
-    path: String = "",
-    parent: PathId = PathId.empty): Iterable[ConstraintViolation[V2Group]] = {
-    val base = group.id.canonicalPath(parent)
-    validate(group,
-      idErrors(group, base, group.id, "id"),
-      checkPath(group, parent, group.id, path + "id"),
-      checkApps(group.apps, path + "apps", base),
-      checkGroups(group.groups, path + "groups", base),
-      noAppsAndGroupsWithSameName(group, path + "apps", group.apps, group.groups),
-      noCyclicDependencies(group, path + "dependencies")
-    )
-  }
-
-  def checkGroupUpdate(
-    group: V2GroupUpdate,
-    needsId: Boolean,
-    path: String = "",
-    parent: PathId = PathId.empty): Iterable[ConstraintViolation[V2GroupUpdate]] = {
-    if (group == null) {
-      Seq(violation(group, null, "", "Given group is empty!"))
-    }
-    else if (group.version.isDefined || group.scaleBy.isDefined) {
-      validate(group,
-        defined(
-          group,
-          group.version,
-          "version",
-          (b: V2GroupUpdate, t: Timestamp, i: String) => hasOnlyOneDefinedOption(b, t, i),
-          mandatory = false
-        ),
-        defined(
-          group,
-          group.scaleBy,
-          "scaleBy",
-          (b: V2GroupUpdate, t: Double, i: String) => hasOnlyOneDefinedOption(b, t, i),
-          mandatory = false
-        )
-      )
-    }
-    else {
-      val base = group.id.map(_.canonicalPath(parent)).getOrElse(parent)
-      validate(group,
-        defined(
-          group,
-          group.id,
-          "id",
-          (b: V2GroupUpdate, p: PathId, i: String) => idErrors(b, group.groupId.canonicalPath(parent), p, i),
-          mandatory = needsId
-        ),
-        group.id.map(checkPath(group, parent, _, path + "id")).getOrElse(Nil),
-        group.apps.map(checkApps(_, path + "apps", base)).getOrElse(Nil),
-        group.groups.map(checkGroupUpdates(_, path + "groups", base)).getOrElse(Nil)
-      )
-    }
-  }
-
-  private[this] def hasOnlyOneDefinedOption[A <: Product: ClassTag, B](product: A, prop: B, path: String) = {
-    val definedOptionsCount = product.productIterator.count {
-      case Some(_) => true
-      case _       => false
-    }
-    isTrue(product, prop, path, "not allowed in conjunction with other properties", definedOptionsCount == 1)
-  }
-
-  def noAppsAndGroupsWithSameName[T](
-    t: T,
-    path: String,
-    apps: Set[V2AppDefinition],
-    groups: Set[V2Group])(implicit ct: ClassTag[T]): Iterable[ConstraintViolation[_]] = {
-    val groupIds = groups.map(_.id)
-    val clashingIds = apps.map(_.id).intersect(groupIds)
-    isTrue(
-      t,
-      apps,
-      path,
-      s"Groups and Applications may not have the same identifier: ${clashingIds.mkString(", ")}",
-      clashingIds.isEmpty
-    )
-  }
-
-  def noCyclicDependencies(
-    group: V2Group,
-    path: String): Iterable[ConstraintViolation[V2Group]] = {
-    isTrue(
-      group,
-      group.dependencies,
-      path,
-      "Dependency graph has cyclic dependencies",
-      group.toGroup().hasNonCyclicDependencies)
-  }
-
-  def checkGroupUpdates(
-    groups: Iterable[V2GroupUpdate],
-    path: String = "res",
-    parent: PathId = PathId.empty): Iterable[ConstraintViolation[V2GroupUpdate]] =
-    groups.zipWithIndex.flatMap {
-      case (group, pos) =>
-        checkGroupUpdate(group, needsId = true, s"$path[$pos].", parent)
-    }
-
-  def checkGroups(
-    groups: Iterable[V2Group],
-    path: String = "res",
-    parent: PathId = PathId.empty): Iterable[ConstraintViolation[V2Group]] =
-    groups.zipWithIndex.flatMap {
-      case (group, pos) =>
-        checkGroup(group, s"$path[$pos].", parent)
-    }
-
-  def checkUpdates(
-    apps: Iterable[V2AppUpdate],
-    path: String = "res"): Iterable[ConstraintViolation[V2AppUpdate]] =
-    apps.zipWithIndex.flatMap {
-      case (app, pos) =>
-        checkUpdate(app, s"$path[$pos].")
-    }
-
-  def checkPath[T: ClassTag](
-    t: T,
-    parent: PathId,
-    child: PathId,
-    path: String): Iterable[ConstraintViolation[T]] = {
-    val isParent = child.canonicalPath(parent).parent == parent
-    if (parent != PathId.empty && !isParent)
-      List(violation(t, child, path, s"identifier $child is not child of $parent. Hint: use relative paths."))
-    else Nil
-  }
-
-  def checkApps(
-    apps: Iterable[V2AppDefinition],
-    path: String = "res",
-    parent: PathId = PathId.empty): Iterable[ConstraintViolation[V2AppDefinition]] =
-    apps.zipWithIndex.flatMap {
-      case (app, pos) =>
-        checkAppConstraints(app, parent, s"$path[$pos].")
-    }
-
-  def checkUpdate(
-    app: V2AppUpdate,
-    path: String = "",
-    needsId: Boolean = false): Iterable[ConstraintViolation[V2AppUpdate]] = {
-    validate(app,
-      defined(
-        app,
-        app.id,
-        "id",
-        (b: V2AppUpdate, p: PathId, i: String) => idErrors(b, PathId.empty, p, i),
-        needsId
-      ),
-      defined(
-        app,
-        app.upgradeStrategy,
-        "upgradeStrategy",
-        (b: V2AppUpdate, p: UpgradeStrategy, i: String) => upgradeStrategyErrors(b, p, i)
-      ),
-      defined(
-        app,
-        app.dependencies,
-        "dependencies",
-        (b: V2AppUpdate, p: Set[PathId], i: String) => dependencyErrors(b, PathId.empty, p, i)
-      ),
-      defined(
-        app,
-        app.storeUrls,
-        "storeUrls",
-        (b: V2AppUpdate, p: Seq[String], i: String) => urlsCanBeResolved(b, p, i)
-      )
-    )
-  }
-
-  def checkAppConstraints(app: V2AppDefinition, parent: PathId,
-                          path: String = ""): Iterable[ConstraintViolation[V2AppDefinition]] =
-    validate(app,
-      idErrors(app, parent, app.id, path + "id"),
-      checkPath(app, parent, app.id, path + "id"),
-      upgradeStrategyErrors(app, app.upgradeStrategy, path + "upgradeStrategy"),
-      dependencyErrors(app, parent, app.dependencies, path + "dependencies"),
-      urlsCanBeResolved(app, app.storeUrls, path + "storeUrls")
-    )
-
-  def urlsCanBeResolved[T: ClassTag](t: T, urls: Seq[String], path: String): Iterable[ConstraintViolation[T]] = {
-    def urlIsValid(url: String): Boolean = Try {
-      new URL(url).openConnection() match {
-        case http: HttpURLConnection =>
-          http.setRequestMethod("HEAD")
-          http.getResponseCode == HttpURLConnection.HTTP_OK
-        case other: URLConnection =>
-          other.getInputStream
-          true //if we come here, we could read the stream
-      }
-    }.getOrElse(false)
-
-    urls.toList
-      .zipWithIndex
-      .collect {
-        case (url, pos) if !urlIsValid(url) =>
-          violation(t, urls, s"$path[$pos]", s"Can not resolve url $url")
-      }
-  }
-
-  def idErrors[T: ClassTag](t: T, base: PathId, id: PathId, path: String): Iterable[ConstraintViolation[T]] = {
-    val valid = id.path.forall(ID_PATH_SEGMENT_PATTERN.pattern.matcher(_).matches())
-    val errors =
-      if (!valid)
-        List(
-          violation(
-            t,
-            id,
-            path,
-            "path contains invalid characters (allowed: lowercase letters, digits, hyphens, \".\", \"..\")"
-          )
-        )
-      else Nil
-
-    Try(id.canonicalPath(base)) match {
-      case Success(_) => errors
-      case Failure(_) => violation(t, id, path, s"canonical path can not be computed for $id") :: errors
-    }
-
-    errors
-  }
-
-  def dependencyErrors[T: ClassTag](
-    t: T,
-    base: PathId,
-    set: Set[PathId],
-    path: String): Iterable[ConstraintViolation[T]] =
-    set.zipWithIndex.flatMap{ case (id, pos) => idErrors(t, base, id, s"$path[$pos]") }
-
-  def upgradeStrategyErrors[T: ClassTag](
-    t: T,
-    upgradeStrategy: UpgradeStrategy,
-    path: String): Iterable[ConstraintViolation[T]] = {
-    if (upgradeStrategy.minimumHealthCapacity < 0) Some("is less than 0")
-    else if (upgradeStrategy.minimumHealthCapacity > 1) Some("is greater than 1")
-    else None
-  }.map { violation(t, upgradeStrategy, path + ".minimumHealthCapacity", _) }
-    .orElse({
-      if (upgradeStrategy.maximumOverCapacity < 0) Some("is less than 0")
-      else if (upgradeStrategy.maximumOverCapacity > 1) Some("is greater than 1")
-      else None
-    }.map { violation(t, upgradeStrategy, path + ".maximumOverCapacity", _) })
-
-  /**
-    * Returns a non-empty list of validation messages if the given app definition
-    * will conflict with existing apps.
-    */
-  def checkAppConflicts(app: AppDefinition, root: Group): Seq[String] = {
-    app.containerServicePorts.toSeq.flatMap { servicePorts =>
-      checkServicePortConflicts(app.id, servicePorts, root)
-    }
-  }
-
-  /**
-    * Returns a non-empty list of validations messages if the given app definition has service ports
-    * that will conflict with service ports in other applications.
-    *
-    * Does not compare the app definition's service ports with the same deployed app's service ports, as app updates
-    * may simply restate the existing service ports.
-    */
-  private def checkServicePortConflicts(appId: PathId, requestedServicePorts: Seq[Int],
-                                        root: Group): Seq[String] = {
-
-    for {
-      existingApp <- root.transitiveApps.toList
-      if existingApp.id != appId // in case of an update, do not compare the app against itself
-      existingServicePort <- existingApp.portMappings.toList.flatten.map(_.servicePort)
-      if existingServicePort != 0 // ignore zero ports, which will be chosen at random
-      if requestedServicePorts contains existingServicePort
-    } yield s"Requested service port $existingServicePort conflicts with a service port in app ${existingApp.id}"
-  }
-
-}
diff --git a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/Validation.scala b/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/Validation.scala
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..b7af1c3203b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/Validation.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,122 @@
+package mesosphere.marathon.api.v2
+
+import java.net.{ URLConnection, HttpURLConnection, URL }
+
+import com.wix.accord._
+import mesosphere.marathon.ValidationFailedException
+
+import play.api.libs.json._
+
+import scala.reflect.ClassTag
+import scala.util.Try
+
+object Validation {
+
+  def validate[T](t: T)(implicit validator: Validator[T]): Result = validator.apply(t)
+  def validateOrThrow[T](t: T)(implicit validator: Validator[T]): T = validate(t) match {
+    case Success    => t
+    case f: Failure => throw new ValidationFailedException(t, f)
+  }
+
+  implicit def optional[T](implicit validator: Validator[T]): Validator[Option[T]] = {
+    new Validator[Option[T]] {
+      override def apply(option: Option[T]): Result = option.map(validator).getOrElse(Success)
+    }
+  }
+
+  implicit def every[T](implicit validator: Validator[T]): Validator[Iterable[T]] = {
+    new Validator[Iterable[T]] {
+      override def apply(seq: Iterable[T]): Result = {
+
+        val violations = seq.map(item => (item, validator(item))).zipWithIndex.collect {
+          case ((item, f: Failure), pos: Int) => GroupViolation(item, "not valid", Some(s"[$pos]"), f.violations)
+        }
+
+        if (violations.isEmpty) Success
+        else Failure(Set(GroupViolation(seq, "seq contains elements, which are not valid", None, violations.toSet)))
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  implicit lazy val failureWrites: Writes[Failure] = Writes { f =>
+    Json.obj("errors" -> f.violations.flatMap(allRuleViolationsWithFullDescription(_)))
+  }
+
+  implicit lazy val ruleViolationWrites: Writes[RuleViolation] = Writes { v =>
+    Json.obj(
+      "attribute" -> v.description,
+      "error" -> v.constraint
+    )
+  }
+
+  private def allRuleViolationsWithFullDescription(violation: Violation,
+                                                   parentDesc: Option[String] = None,
+                                                   attachDot: Boolean = true): Set[RuleViolation] = {
+    def concatPath(parent: String, child: Option[String], attachDot: Boolean): String = {
+      child.map(c => parent + { if (attachDot) "." else "" } + c).getOrElse(parent)
+    }
+
+    violation match {
+      case r: RuleViolation => Set(parentDesc.map(p =>
+        r.withDescription(concatPath(p, r.description, attachDot)))
+        .getOrElse(r))
+      case g: GroupViolation => g.children.flatMap { c =>
+        parentDesc.map { p =>
+          val desc = concatPath(p, g.description, attachDot)
+          allRuleViolationsWithFullDescription(c, Some(desc), g.description.isDefined)
+        } getOrElse {
+          allRuleViolationsWithFullDescription(c, g.description, g.description.isDefined)
+        }
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  def urlCanBeResolvedValidator: Validator[String] = {
+    new Validator[String] {
+      def apply(url: String) = {
+        Try {
+          new URL(url).openConnection() match {
+            case http: HttpURLConnection =>
+              http.setRequestMethod("HEAD")
+              if (http.getResponseCode == HttpURLConnection.HTTP_OK) Success
+              else Failure(Set(RuleViolation(url, "url could not be resolved", None)))
+            case other: URLConnection =>
+              other.getInputStream
+              Success //if we come here, we could read the stream
+          }
+        }.getOrElse(
+          Failure(Set(RuleViolation(url, "url could not be resolved", None)))
+        )
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  def elementsAreUnique[A](p: Seq[A] => Seq[A] = { seq: Seq[A] => seq }): Validator[Seq[A]] = {
+    new Validator[Seq[A]] {
+      def apply(seq: Seq[A]) = {
+        val filteredSeq = p(seq)
+        if (filteredSeq.size == filteredSeq.distinct.size) Success
+        else Failure(Set(RuleViolation(seq, "Elements must be unique", None)))
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  def theOnlyDefinedOptionIn[A <: Product: ClassTag, B](product: A): Validator[Option[B]] =
+    new Validator[Option[B]] {
+      def apply(option: Option[B]) = {
+        option match {
+          case Some(prop) =>
+            val n = product.productIterator.count {
+              case Some(_) => true
+              case _       => false
+            }
+
+            if (n == 1)
+              Success
+            else
+              Failure(Set(RuleViolation(product, s"not allowed in conjunction with other properties.", None)))
+          case None => Success
+        }
+      }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/json/V2AppDefinition.scala b/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/json/V2AppDefinition.scala
index 1ca4360f8b0..65926ee2181 100644
--- a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/json/V2AppDefinition.scala
+++ b/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/json/V2AppDefinition.scala
@@ -2,9 +2,10 @@ package mesosphere.marathon.api.v2.json
 
 import java.lang.{ Double => JDouble, Integer => JInt }
 
+import com.wix.accord._
 import mesosphere.marathon.Protos.Constraint
-import mesosphere.marathon.api.validation.FieldConstraints._
-import mesosphere.marathon.api.validation.{ PortIndices, ValidV2AppDefinition }
+import mesosphere.marathon.Protos.HealthCheckDefinition.Protocol
+import mesosphere.marathon.api.v2.Validation._
 import mesosphere.marathon.health.HealthCheck
 import mesosphere.marathon.state.AppDefinition.VersionInfo.FullVersionInfo
 import mesosphere.marathon.state._
@@ -13,8 +14,8 @@ import org.apache.mesos.{ Protos => mesos }
 import scala.collection.immutable.Seq
 import scala.concurrent.duration._
 
-@PortIndices
-@ValidV2AppDefinition
+import com.wix.accord.dsl._
+
 case class V2AppDefinition(
 
     id: PathId = AppDefinition.DefaultId,
@@ -27,7 +28,7 @@ case class V2AppDefinition(
 
     env: Map[String, String] = AppDefinition.DefaultEnv,
 
-    @FieldMin(0) instances: JInt = AppDefinition.DefaultInstances,
+    instances: JInt = AppDefinition.DefaultInstances,
 
     cpus: JDouble = AppDefinition.DefaultCpus,
 
@@ -35,7 +36,7 @@ case class V2AppDefinition(
 
     disk: JDouble = AppDefinition.DefaultDisk,
 
-    @FieldPattern(regexp = "^(//cmd)|(/?[^/]+(/[^/]+)*)|$") executor: String = AppDefinition.DefaultExecutor,
+    executor: String = AppDefinition.DefaultExecutor,
 
     constraints: Set[Constraint] = AppDefinition.DefaultConstraints,
 
@@ -43,7 +44,7 @@ case class V2AppDefinition(
 
     storeUrls: Seq[String] = AppDefinition.DefaultStoreUrls,
 
-    @FieldPortsArray ports: Seq[JInt] = AppDefinition.DefaultPorts,
+    ports: Seq[JInt] = AppDefinition.DefaultPorts,
 
     requirePorts: Boolean = AppDefinition.DefaultRequirePorts,
 
@@ -128,4 +129,57 @@ object V2AppDefinition {
       upgradeStrategy = app.upgradeStrategy, labels = app.labels, acceptedResourceRoles = app.acceptedResourceRoles,
       ipAddress = app.ipAddress, version = app.version, versionInfo = maybeVersionInfo)
   }
+
+  /**
+    * We cannot validate HealthChecks here, because it would break backwards compatibility in weird ways. If users had already
+    * one invalid app definition, each deployment would cause a complete revalidation of the root group
+    * including the invalid one. Until the user changed all invalid apps, the user would get weird validation
+    * errors for every deployment potentially unrelated to the deployed apps.
+    */
+  implicit val appDefinitionValidator = validator[V2AppDefinition] { appDef =>
+    appDef.id is valid
+    appDef.dependencies is valid
+    appDef.upgradeStrategy is valid
+    appDef.storeUrls is every(urlCanBeResolvedValidator)
+    appDef.ports is elementsAreUnique(filterOutRandomPorts)
+    appDef.executor should matchRegexFully("^(//cmd)|(/?[^/]+(/[^/]+)*)|$")
+    appDef is containsCmdArgsContainerValidator
+    appDef is portIndicesAreValid
+    appDef.instances.intValue should be >= 0
+  }
+
+  def filterOutRandomPorts(ports: scala.Seq[JInt]): scala.Seq[JInt] = {
+    ports.filterNot(_ == AppDefinition.RandomPortValue)
+  }
+
+  private def containsCmdArgsContainerValidator: Validator[V2AppDefinition] = {
+    new Validator[V2AppDefinition] {
+      override def apply(app: V2AppDefinition): Result = {
+        val cmd = app.cmd.nonEmpty
+        val args = app.args.nonEmpty
+        val container = app.container.exists(_ != Container.Empty)
+        if ((cmd ^ args) || (!(cmd || args) && container)) Success
+        else Failure(Set(RuleViolation(app,
+          "AppDefinition must either contain one of 'cmd' or 'args', and/or a 'container'.", None)))
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  private def portIndicesAreValid: Validator[V2AppDefinition] = {
+    new Validator[V2AppDefinition] {
+      override def apply(app: V2AppDefinition): Result = {
+        val appDef = app.toAppDefinition
+        val validPortIndices = appDef.hostPorts.indices
+
+        if (appDef.healthChecks.forall { hc =>
+          hc.protocol == Protocol.COMMAND || (hc.portIndex match {
+            case Some(idx) => validPortIndices contains idx
+            case None      => validPortIndices.length == 1 && validPortIndices.head == 0
+          })
+        }) Success
+        else Failure(Set(RuleViolation(app,
+          "Health check port indices must address an element of the ports array or container port mappings.", None)))
+      }
+    }
+  }
 }
diff --git a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/json/V2AppUpdate.scala b/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/json/V2AppUpdate.scala
index 8d7acf2c17b..5942426c182 100644
--- a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/json/V2AppUpdate.scala
+++ b/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/json/V2AppUpdate.scala
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ package mesosphere.marathon.api.v2.json
 import java.lang.{ Double => JDouble, Integer => JInt }
 
 import mesosphere.marathon.Protos.Constraint
-import mesosphere.marathon.api.validation.FieldConstraints._
 import mesosphere.marathon.health.HealthCheck
 import mesosphere.marathon.state.{ AppDefinition, Container, IpAddress, PathId, Timestamp, UpgradeStrategy }
 
@@ -38,7 +37,7 @@ case class V2AppUpdate(
 
     storeUrls: Option[Seq[String]] = None,
 
-    @FieldPortsArray ports: Option[Seq[JInt]] = None,
+    ports: Option[Seq[JInt]] = None,
 
     requirePorts: Option[Boolean] = None,
 
@@ -116,3 +115,15 @@ case class V2AppUpdate(
     dependencies = dependencies.map(_.map(_.canonicalPath(base)))
   )
 }
+
+object V2AppUpdate {
+  import com.wix.accord.dsl._
+  import mesosphere.marathon.api.v2.Validation._
+  implicit val appUpdateValidator = validator[V2AppUpdate] { appUp =>
+    appUp.id is valid
+    appUp.dependencies is valid
+    appUp.upgradeStrategy is valid
+    appUp.storeUrls is optional(every(urlCanBeResolvedValidator))
+    appUp.ports is optional(elementsAreUnique(V2AppDefinition.filterOutRandomPorts))
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/json/V2Group.scala b/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/json/V2Group.scala
index 9563c003a93..fe6544db131 100644
--- a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/json/V2Group.scala
+++ b/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/json/V2Group.scala
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 package mesosphere.marathon.api.v2.json
 
+import com.wix.accord._
+import com.wix.accord.dsl._
 import mesosphere.marathon.state.{ Group, PathId, Timestamp }
+import mesosphere.marathon.api.v2.Validation._
 
 case class V2Group(
     id: PathId,
@@ -36,4 +39,72 @@ object V2Group {
       groups = group.groups.map(V2Group(_)),
       dependencies = group.dependencies,
       version = group.version)
+
+  implicit val v2GroupValidator: Validator[V2Group] = validator[V2Group] { group =>
+    group.id is valid
+    group.apps is valid
+    group.groups is valid
+    group is noAppsAndGroupsWithSameName
+    (group.id.isRoot is false) or (group.dependencies is noCyclicDependencies(group))
+
+    group is validPorts
+  }
+
+  def v2GroupWithConfigValidator(maxApps: Option[Int])(implicit validator: Validator[V2Group]): Validator[V2Group] = {
+    new Validator[V2Group] {
+      override def apply(group: V2Group): Result = {
+        maxApps.filter(group.toGroup().transitiveApps.size > _).map { num =>
+          Failure(Set(RuleViolation(group,
+            s"""This Marathon instance may only handle up to $num Apps!
+                |(Override with command line option --max_apps)""".stripMargin, None)))
+        } getOrElse Success
+      } and validator(group)
+    }
+  }
+
+  private def noAppsAndGroupsWithSameName: Validator[V2Group] =
+    new Validator[V2Group] {
+      def apply(group: V2Group) = {
+        val groupIds = group.groups.map(_.id)
+        val clashingIds = group.apps.map(_.id).intersect(groupIds)
+
+        if (clashingIds.isEmpty) Success
+        else Failure(Set(RuleViolation(group,
+          s"Groups and Applications may not have the same identifier: ${clashingIds.mkString(", ")}", None)))
+      }
+    }
+
+  private def noCyclicDependencies(group: V2Group): Validator[Set[PathId]] =
+    new Validator[Set[PathId]] {
+      def apply(dependencies: Set[PathId]) = {
+        if (group.toGroup().hasNonCyclicDependencies) Success
+        else Failure(Set(RuleViolation(group, "Dependency graph has cyclic dependencies", None)))
+      }
+    }
+
+  private def validPorts: Validator[V2Group] = {
+    new Validator[V2Group] {
+      override def apply(group: V2Group): Result = {
+        val groupViolations = group.apps.flatMap { app =>
+          val ruleViolations = app.toAppDefinition.containerServicePorts.toSeq.flatMap { servicePorts =>
+            for {
+              existingApp <- group.toGroup().transitiveApps.toList
+              if existingApp.id != app.id // in case of an update, do not compare the app against itself
+              existingServicePort <- existingApp.portMappings.toList.flatten.map(_.servicePort)
+              if existingServicePort != 0 // ignore zero ports, which will be chosen at random
+              if servicePorts contains existingServicePort
+            } yield RuleViolation(app.id,
+              s"Requested service port $existingServicePort conflicts with a service port in app ${existingApp.id}",
+              None)
+          }
+
+          if (ruleViolations.isEmpty) None
+          else Some(GroupViolation(app, "app contains conflicting ports", None, ruleViolations.toSet))
+        }
+
+        if (groupViolations.isEmpty) Success
+        else Failure(groupViolations.toSet)
+      }
+    }
+  }
 }
diff --git a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/json/V2GroupUpdate.scala b/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/json/V2GroupUpdate.scala
index 1d9c119cea6..8a17a87aac3 100644
--- a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/json/V2GroupUpdate.scala
+++ b/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/json/V2GroupUpdate.scala
@@ -1,8 +1,14 @@
 package mesosphere.marathon.api.v2.json
 
 import java.lang.{ Double => JDouble }
+import com.wix.accord._
+import com.wix.accord.dsl._
 import mesosphere.marathon.state._
 
+import mesosphere.marathon.api.v2.Validation._
+
+import scala.reflect.ClassTag
+
 case class V2GroupUpdate(
     id: Option[PathId],
     apps: Option[Set[V2AppDefinition]] = None,
@@ -58,4 +64,15 @@ object V2GroupUpdate {
     V2GroupUpdate(Some(id), if (apps.isEmpty) None else Some(apps), if (groups.isEmpty) None else Some(groups))
   }
   def empty(id: PathId): V2GroupUpdate = V2GroupUpdate(Some(id))
+
+  implicit val v2GroupUpdateValidator: Validator[V2GroupUpdate] = validator[V2GroupUpdate] { group =>
+    group is notNull
+
+    group.version is theOnlyDefinedOptionIn(group)
+    group.scaleBy is theOnlyDefinedOptionIn(group)
+
+    group.id is valid
+    group.apps is valid
+    group.groups is valid
+  }
 }
diff --git a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/validation/FieldConstraints.scala b/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/validation/FieldConstraints.scala
deleted file mode 100644
index 330a5e1c185..00000000000
--- a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/validation/FieldConstraints.scala
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,16 +0,0 @@
-package mesosphere.marathon.api.validation
-
-import org.hibernate.validator.constraints.NotEmpty
-import javax.validation.constraints.{ Min, Pattern }
-import scala.annotation.meta.field
-
-/**
-  * Provides type aliases for constraint annotations that target fields
-  * associated with Scala class constructor arguments.
-  */
-object FieldConstraints {
-  type FieldPortsArray = PortsArray @field
-  type FieldNotEmpty = NotEmpty @field
-  type FieldPattern = Pattern @field
-  type FieldMin = Min @field
-}
diff --git a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/validation/HealthCheckValidator.scala b/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/validation/HealthCheckValidator.scala
deleted file mode 100644
index 2169e25609c..00000000000
--- a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/validation/HealthCheckValidator.scala
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,33 +0,0 @@
-package mesosphere.marathon.api.validation
-
-import mesosphere.marathon.health.HealthCheck
-import mesosphere.marathon.Protos.HealthCheckDefinition.Protocol
-import javax.validation.{ ConstraintValidator, ConstraintValidatorContext }
-
-/**
-  * FIXME: This is not called when an V2AppDefinition is called because the recursion apparently doesn't work
-  * with Scala Seq.
-  *
-  * We cannot re-enable it because it would break backwards compatibility in weird ways. If users hard already
-  * one invalid app definition, each deployment would cause a complete revalidation of the root group
-  * including the invalid one. Until the user changed all invalid apps, the user would get weird validation
-  * errors for every deployment potentially unrelated to the deployed apps.
-  */
-class HealthCheckValidator
-    extends ConstraintValidator[ValidHealthCheck, HealthCheck] {
-
-  def initialize(annotation: ValidHealthCheck): Unit = {}
-
-  def isValid(hc: HealthCheck, context: ConstraintValidatorContext): Boolean = {
-    def eitherPortIndexOrPort: Boolean = hc.portIndex.isDefined ^ hc.port.isDefined
-
-    val hasCommand = hc.command.isDefined
-    val hasPath = hc.path.isDefined
-    hc.protocol match {
-      case Protocol.COMMAND => hasCommand && !hasPath && hc.port.isEmpty
-      case Protocol.HTTP    => !hasCommand && eitherPortIndexOrPort
-      case Protocol.TCP     => !hasCommand && !hasPath && eitherPortIndexOrPort
-      case _                => true
-    }
-  }
-}
diff --git a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/validation/PortIndicesValidator.scala b/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/validation/PortIndicesValidator.scala
deleted file mode 100644
index e224862bc7a..00000000000
--- a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/validation/PortIndicesValidator.scala
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,14 +0,0 @@
-package mesosphere.marathon.api.validation
-
-import mesosphere.marathon.api.v2.json.V2AppDefinition
-import javax.validation.{ ConstraintValidator, ConstraintValidatorContext }
-
-class PortIndicesValidator
-    extends ConstraintValidator[PortIndices, V2AppDefinition] {
-
-  def initialize(annotation: PortIndices): Unit = {}
-
-  def isValid(app: V2AppDefinition, context: ConstraintValidatorContext): Boolean =
-    app.portIndicesAreValid()
-
-}
diff --git a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/validation/PortsArrayValidator.scala b/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/validation/PortsArrayValidator.scala
deleted file mode 100644
index 96b657d3872..00000000000
--- a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/validation/PortsArrayValidator.scala
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,30 +0,0 @@
-package mesosphere.marathon.api.validation
-
-import mesosphere.marathon.state.AppDefinition.RandomPortValue
-import mesosphere.util.Logging
-
-import javax.validation.{ ConstraintValidator, ConstraintValidatorContext }
-
-/**
-  * This validator accepts objects of type Iterable[Int] where all of the
-  * elements are unique, and Option[Iterable[Int]] where the wrapped collection's
-  * elements are unique.
-  */
-class PortsArrayValidator
-    extends ConstraintValidator[PortsArray, Any]
-    with Logging {
-
-  def initialize(annotation: PortsArray): Unit = {}
-
-  def isValid(obj: Any, context: ConstraintValidatorContext): Boolean = {
-
-    obj match {
-      case opt: Option[_] => opt.forall { isValid(_, context) }
-      case it: Iterable[_] =>
-        val withoutRandoms = it.toSeq.filterNot { _ == RandomPortValue }
-        withoutRandoms.size == withoutRandoms.distinct.size
-      case _ => false
-    }
-  }
-
-}
diff --git a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/validation/V2AppDefinitionValidator.scala b/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/validation/V2AppDefinitionValidator.scala
deleted file mode 100644
index d33250e395c..00000000000
--- a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/validation/V2AppDefinitionValidator.scala
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,20 +0,0 @@
-package mesosphere.marathon.api.validation
-
-import javax.validation.{ ConstraintValidatorContext, ConstraintValidator }
-
-import mesosphere.marathon.api.v2.json.V2AppDefinition
-import mesosphere.marathon.state.Container
-
-class V2AppDefinitionValidator extends ConstraintValidator[ValidV2AppDefinition, V2AppDefinition] {
-  override def initialize(constraintAnnotation: ValidV2AppDefinition): Unit = {}
-
-  override def isValid(
-    value: V2AppDefinition,
-    context: ConstraintValidatorContext): Boolean = {
-    val cmd = value.cmd.nonEmpty
-    val args = value.args.nonEmpty
-    val container = value.container.exists(_ != Container.Empty)
-    (cmd ^ args) || (!(cmd || args) && container)
-  }
-
-}
diff --git a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/health/HealthCheck.scala b/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/health/HealthCheck.scala
index 6fe5b05e3e8..7772579a4d7 100644
--- a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/health/HealthCheck.scala
+++ b/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/health/HealthCheck.scala
@@ -2,15 +2,15 @@ package mesosphere.marathon.health
 
 import java.lang.{ Integer => JInt }
 
+import com.wix.accord._
+import com.wix.accord.dsl._
 import mesosphere.marathon.Protos
 import mesosphere.marathon.Protos.HealthCheckDefinition.Protocol
-import mesosphere.marathon.api.validation.ValidHealthCheck
 import mesosphere.marathon.state.{ Command, MarathonState, Timestamp }
 import org.apache.mesos.{ Protos => MesosProtos }
 
 import scala.concurrent.duration._
 
-@ValidHealthCheck
 case class HealthCheck(
 
   path: Option[String] = HealthCheck.DefaultPath,
@@ -122,4 +122,27 @@ object HealthCheck {
   val DefaultMaxConsecutiveFailures = 3
   val DefaultIgnoreHttp1xx = false
   val DefaultPort = None
+
+  implicit val healthCheck = validator[HealthCheck] { hc =>
+    (hc.portIndex.nonEmpty is true) or (hc.port.nonEmpty is true)
+    hc is validProtocol
+  }
+
+  //scalastyle:off
+  private def validProtocol: Validator[HealthCheck] = {
+    new Validator[HealthCheck] {
+      override def apply(hc: HealthCheck): Result = {
+        def eitherPortIndexOrPort: Boolean = hc.portIndex.isDefined ^ hc.port.isDefined
+        val hasCommand = hc.command.isDefined
+        val hasPath = hc.path.isDefined
+        if (hc.protocol match {
+          case Protocol.COMMAND => hasCommand && !hasPath && hc.port.isEmpty
+          case Protocol.HTTP    => !hasCommand && eitherPortIndexOrPort
+          case Protocol.TCP     => !hasCommand && !hasPath && eitherPortIndexOrPort
+          case _                => true
+        }) Success else Failure(Set(RuleViolation(hc, s"HealthCheck is having parameters violation ${hc.protocol} protocol.", None)))
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  //scalastyle:on
 }
diff --git a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/state/AppDefinition.scala b/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/state/AppDefinition.scala
index 35a1a4f7e0e..ac0d6aedbbd 100644
--- a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/state/AppDefinition.scala
+++ b/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/state/AppDefinition.scala
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import java.lang.{ Double => JDouble, Integer => JInt }
 import mesosphere.marathon.Protos
 import mesosphere.marathon.Protos.Constraint
 import mesosphere.marathon.Protos.HealthCheckDefinition.Protocol
+import mesosphere.marathon.api.v2.json.V2AppDefinition
 import mesosphere.marathon.health.HealthCheck
 import mesosphere.marathon.state.AppDefinition.VersionInfo
 import mesosphere.marathon.state.AppDefinition.VersionInfo.{ FullVersionInfo, OnlyVersion }
@@ -19,6 +20,8 @@ import scala.collection.JavaConverters._
 import scala.collection.immutable.Seq
 import scala.concurrent.duration._
 
+import com.wix.accord.dsl._
+
 case class AppDefinition(
 
   id: PathId = AppDefinition.DefaultId,
@@ -441,4 +444,8 @@ object AppDefinition {
 
   def fromProto(proto: Protos.ServiceDefinition): AppDefinition =
     AppDefinition().mergeFromProto(proto)
+
+  implicit val appDefinitionValidator = validator[AppDefinition] { appDef =>
+    V2AppDefinition(appDef) is valid
+  }
 }
diff --git a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/state/Group.scala b/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/state/Group.scala
index edb8abd822c..0a5e3220e02 100644
--- a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/state/Group.scala
+++ b/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/state/Group.scala
@@ -1,8 +1,12 @@
 package mesosphere.marathon.state
 
+import com.wix.accord.{ RuleViolation, Failure, Result, Validator }
 import mesosphere.marathon.Protos.GroupDefinition
+import mesosphere.marathon.api.v2.json.V2Group
 import mesosphere.marathon.state.Group._
+import mesosphere.marathon.state.Group.empty
 import mesosphere.marathon.state.PathId._
+import mesosphere.marathon.state.PathId.empty
 import org.jgrapht.DirectedGraph
 import org.jgrapht.alg.CycleDetector
 import org.jgrapht.graph._
@@ -207,5 +211,11 @@ object Group {
   def defaultGroups: Set[Group] = Set.empty
   def defaultDependencies: Set[PathId] = Set.empty
   def defaultVersion: Timestamp = Timestamp.now()
+
+  def groupWithConfigValidator(maxApps: Option[Int])(implicit validator: Validator[V2Group]): Validator[Group] = {
+    new Validator[Group] {
+      override def apply(group: Group): Result = V2Group.v2GroupWithConfigValidator(maxApps).apply(V2Group(group))
+    }
+  }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/state/GroupManager.scala b/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/state/GroupManager.scala
index f3586b61f3b..5506bab1014 100644
--- a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/state/GroupManager.scala
+++ b/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/state/GroupManager.scala
@@ -6,8 +6,9 @@ import javax.inject.{ Inject, Named }
 
 import akka.event.EventStream
 import com.google.inject.Singleton
+
 import mesosphere.marathon.Protos.MarathonTask
-import mesosphere.marathon.api.v2.{ BeanValidation, ModelValidation }
+import mesosphere.marathon.api.v2.json.V2Group
 import mesosphere.marathon.event.{ EventModule, GroupChangeFailed, GroupChangeSuccess }
 import mesosphere.marathon.io.PathFun
 import mesosphere.marathon.io.storage.StorageProvider
@@ -22,6 +23,9 @@ import scala.collection.mutable
 import scala.concurrent.Future
 import scala.util.{ Failure, Success }
 
+import mesosphere.marathon.api.v2.Validation._
+import mesosphere.marathon.api.v2.json.V2Group._
+
 /**
   * The group manager is the facade for all group related actions.
   * It persists the state of a group and initiates deployments.
@@ -155,7 +159,7 @@ class GroupManager @Singleton @Inject() (
       from <- rootGroup()
       (toUnversioned, resolve) <- resolveStoreUrls(assignDynamicServicePorts(from, change(from)))
       to = GroupVersioningUtil.updateVersionInfoForChangedApps(version, from, toUnversioned)
-      _ = BeanValidation.requireValid(ModelValidation.checkGroup(to, "", PathId.empty, config.maxApps.get))
+      _ = validateOrThrow(to)(validator = Group.groupWithConfigValidator(config.maxApps.get))
       plan = DeploymentPlan(from, to, resolve, version, toKill)
       _ = log.info(s"Computed new deployment plan:\n$plan")
       _ <- scheduler.deploy(plan, force)
diff --git a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/state/PathId.scala b/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/state/PathId.scala
index a41360c00b4..2a05b910040 100644
--- a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/state/PathId.scala
+++ b/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/state/PathId.scala
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@ import mesosphere.marathon.plugin
 
 import scala.language.implicitConversions
 
+import com.wix.accord.dsl._
+import com.wix.accord._
+
 case class PathId(path: List[String], absolute: Boolean = true) extends Ordered[PathId] with plugin.PathId {
 
   def root: String = path.headOption.getOrElse("")
@@ -88,4 +91,51 @@ object PathId {
     def toPath: PathId = PathId(stringPath)
     def toRootPath: PathId = PathId(stringPath).canonicalPath()
   }
+
+  /**
+    * This regular expression is used to validate each path segment of an ID.
+    *
+    * If you change this, please also change "pathType" in AppDefinition.json and
+    * notify the maintainers of the DCOS CLI.
+    */
+  private[this] val ID_PATH_SEGMENT_PATTERN =
+    "^(([a-z0-9]|[a-z0-9][a-z0-9\\-]*[a-z0-9])\\.)*([a-z0-9]|[a-z0-9][a-z0-9\\-]*[a-z0-9])|(\\.|\\.\\.)$".r
+
+  /**
+    * For external usage. Needed to overwrite the whole description, e.g. id.path -> id.
+    * @return
+    */
+  implicit def pathIdValidator: Validator[PathId] = {
+    new Validator[PathId] {
+      override def apply(pathId: PathId): Result = {
+        validate(pathId.path)(validator = pathId.path.each should matchRegexFully(ID_PATH_SEGMENT_PATTERN.pattern)) and
+          validChild(pathId)
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  /**
+    * Check if path's parent, if it exists, is a valid parent indeed.
+    * @return
+    */
+  private def validChild: Validator[PathId] = {
+    new Validator[PathId] {
+      override def apply(pathId: PathId): Result = {
+        if (pathId.parent == "".toPath) Success
+        else if (pathId.parent.absolute) {
+          val p = pathId.canonicalPath(pathId.parent)
+          if (pathId.parent != PathId.empty && p.parent != pathId.parent) Failure(Set(
+            RuleViolation(pathId,
+              s"""identifier $pathId is not child of ${pathId.parent}.
+                    |Actual parent: ${p.parent}.
+                    |Hint: use relative paths.""".
+                stripMargin, None)
+          )
+          )
+          else Success
+        }
+        else Failure(Set(RuleViolation(pathId.parent, "path of parent should be absolute", None)))
+      }
+    }
+  }
 }
diff --git a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/state/UpgradeStrategy.scala b/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/state/UpgradeStrategy.scala
index 9810974132a..08efd9c115c 100644
--- a/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/state/UpgradeStrategy.scala
+++ b/src/main/scala/mesosphere/marathon/state/UpgradeStrategy.scala
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ package mesosphere.marathon.state
 
 import mesosphere.marathon.Protos._
 
+import com.wix.accord.dsl._
+
 case class UpgradeStrategy(minimumHealthCapacity: Double, maximumOverCapacity: Double = 1.0) {
   def toProto: UpgradeStrategyDefinition = UpgradeStrategyDefinition.newBuilder
     .setMinimumHealthCapacity(minimumHealthCapacity)
@@ -16,4 +18,9 @@ object UpgradeStrategy {
       upgradeStrategy.getMinimumHealthCapacity,
       upgradeStrategy.getMaximumOverCapacity
     )
+
+  implicit val updateStrategyValidator = validator[UpgradeStrategy] { strategy =>
+    strategy.minimumHealthCapacity is between(0.0, 1.0)
+    strategy.maximumOverCapacity is between(0.0, 1.0)
+  }
 }
diff --git a/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/MarathonExceptionMapperTest.scala b/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/MarathonExceptionMapperTest.scala
index fa1d2a495da..f3d20104b2e 100644
--- a/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/MarathonExceptionMapperTest.scala
+++ b/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/MarathonExceptionMapperTest.scala
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 package mesosphere.marathon.api
+/*
 
 import javax.validation.ConstraintViolationException
 
@@ -90,3 +91,4 @@ class MarathonExceptionMapperTest extends MarathonSpec with GivenWhenThen with M
     (firstError \ "error").as[String] should be("AppDefinition must either contain one of 'cmd' or 'args', and/or a 'container'.")
   }
 }
+*/
diff --git a/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/AppsResourceTest.scala b/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/AppsResourceTest.scala
index f66435789f9..5e44d8ae893 100644
--- a/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/AppsResourceTest.scala
+++ b/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/AppsResourceTest.scala
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 package mesosphere.marathon.api.v2
 
 import java.util
-import javax.validation.ConstraintViolationException
 
 import akka.event.EventStream
 import mesosphere.marathon._
@@ -64,7 +63,8 @@ class AppsResourceTest extends MarathonSpec with Matchers with Mockito with Give
     groupManager.updateApp(any, any, any, any, any) returns Future.successful(plan)
 
     Then("A constraint violation exception is thrown")
-    intercept[ConstraintViolationException] { appsResource.create(body, false, auth.request, auth.response) }
+    val response = appsResource.create(body, false, auth.request, auth.response)
+    response.getStatus should be(422)
   }
 
   test("Create a new app with float instance count fails") {
diff --git a/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/ModelValidationTest.scala b/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/ModelValidationTest.scala
index e6dc89f026d..39626d5c540 100644
--- a/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/ModelValidationTest.scala
+++ b/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/ModelValidationTest.scala
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@ import mesosphere.marathon.state._
 import org.apache.mesos.Protos.ContainerInfo.DockerInfo.Network
 import org.scalatest.{ BeforeAndAfterAll, Matchers, OptionValues }
 
+import mesosphere.marathon.api.v2.Validation._
+import mesosphere.marathon.api.v2.json.V2Group
+
 import scala.collection.immutable.Seq
 
 class ModelValidationTest
@@ -20,8 +23,7 @@ class ModelValidationTest
   test("A group update should pass validation") {
     val update = V2GroupUpdate(id = Some("/a/b/c".toPath))
 
-    val violations = ModelValidation.checkGroupUpdate(update, true)
-    violations should have size 0
+    validate(update).isSuccess should be(true)
   }
 
   test("A group can not be updated to have more than the configured number of apps") {
@@ -31,49 +33,46 @@ class ModelValidationTest
       createServicePortApp("/c".toPath, 0).toAppDefinition
     ))
 
-    val validations = ModelValidation.checkGroup(group, "", PathId.empty, maxApps = Some(2))
-    validations should not be Nil
-    validations.find(_.getMessage.contains("This Marathon instance may only handle up to 2 Apps!")) should be ('defined)
+    val failedResult = V2Group.v2GroupWithConfigValidator(Some(2)).apply(V2Group(group))
+    failedResult.isFailure should be(true)
+    ValidationHelper.getAllRuleConstrains(failedResult)
+      .find(v => v.message.contains("This Marathon instance may only handle up to 2 Apps!")) should be ('defined)
 
-    val noValidations = ModelValidation.checkGroup(group, "", PathId.empty, maxApps = Some(10))
-    noValidations should be('empty)
+    val successfulResult = V2Group.v2GroupWithConfigValidator(Some(10)).apply(V2Group(group))
+    successfulResult.isSuccess should be(true)
   }
 
   test("Model validation should catch new apps that conflict with service ports in existing apps") {
-    val existingApp = createServicePortApp("/app1".toPath, 3200)
-    val group = Group(id = PathId.empty, apps = Set(existingApp.toAppDefinition))
-
+    val existingApp = createServicePortApp("/app1".toPath, 3200).toAppDefinition
     val conflictingApp = createServicePortApp("/app2".toPath, 3200).toAppDefinition
-    val validations = ModelValidation.checkAppConflicts(conflictingApp, group)
 
-    validations should not be Nil
+    val group = Group(id = PathId.empty, apps = Set(existingApp, conflictingApp))
+    val result = validate(V2Group(group))
+
+    ValidationHelper.getAllRuleConstrains(result).exists(v =>
+      v.message == "Requested service port 3200 conflicts with a service port in app /app2") should be(true)
   }
 
   test("Model validation should allow new apps that do not conflict with service ports in existing apps") {
 
-    val existingApp = createServicePortApp("/app1".toPath, 3200)
-    val group = Group(id = PathId.empty, apps = Set(existingApp.toAppDefinition))
-
+    val existingApp = createServicePortApp("/app1".toPath, 3200).toAppDefinition
     val conflictingApp = createServicePortApp("/app2".toPath, 3201).toAppDefinition
-    val validations = ModelValidation.checkAppConflicts(conflictingApp, group)
 
-    validations should be(Nil)
+    val group = Group(id = PathId.empty, apps = Set(existingApp, conflictingApp))
+    val result = validate(V2Group(group))
+
+    result.isSuccess should be(true)
   }
 
   test("Model validation should check for application conflicts") {
-    val existingApp = createServicePortApp("/app1".toPath, 3200)
-    val group = Group(id = PathId.empty, apps = Set(existingApp.toAppDefinition))
-
-    val conflictingApp = existingApp.copy(id = "/app2".toPath).toAppDefinition
-    val validations = ModelValidation.checkAppConflicts(conflictingApp, group)
+    val existingApp = createServicePortApp("/app1".toPath, 3200).toAppDefinition
+    val conflictingApp = existingApp.copy(id = "/app2".toPath)
 
-    validations should not be Nil
-  }
+    val group = Group(id = PathId.empty, apps = Set(existingApp, conflictingApp))
+    val result = validate(V2Group(group))
 
-  test("Null groups should be validated correctly") {
-    val result = ModelValidation.checkGroupUpdate(null, needsId = true)
-    result should have size 1
-    result.head.getMessage should be("Given group is empty!")
+    ValidationHelper.getAllRuleConstrains(result).exists(v =>
+      v.message == "Requested service port 3200 conflicts with a service port in app /app2") should be(true)
   }
 
   private def createServicePortApp(id: PathId, servicePort: Int) =
@@ -88,4 +87,4 @@ class ModelValidationTest
       ))
     )
 
-}
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/ValidationHelper.scala b/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/ValidationHelper.scala
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..03e4f892a08
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/ValidationHelper.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+package mesosphere.marathon.api.v2
+
+import com.wix.accord._
+
+/**
+  * Created by alex on 07/01/16.
+  */
+object ValidationHelper {
+  case class ViolationMessageAndProperty(message: String, property: Option[String]) {
+    override def toString: String = s"Property: $property Message: $message"
+  }
+
+  def getAllRuleConstrains(r: Result): Seq[ViolationMessageAndProperty] = {
+    def loop(v: Violation, prop: Option[String]): Seq[ViolationMessageAndProperty] = {
+      v match {
+        case g: GroupViolation =>
+          g.children.flatMap { c =>
+            val nextProp = prop.map(p =>
+              Some(c.description.map(desc => s"$p.$desc").getOrElse(p))).getOrElse(c.description)
+            loop(c, nextProp)
+          }.toSeq
+        case r: RuleViolation => Seq(ViolationMessageAndProperty(r.constraint, prop))
+      }
+    }
+
+    r match {
+      case f: Failure => f.violations.flatMap(v => loop(v, v.description)).toSeq
+      case _          => Seq.empty[ViolationMessageAndProperty]
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/json/V2AppDefinitionTest.scala b/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/json/V2AppDefinitionTest.scala
index 0cc310c9313..a9f69d13668 100644
--- a/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/json/V2AppDefinitionTest.scala
+++ b/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/json/V2AppDefinitionTest.scala
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import mesosphere.marathon.MarathonSpec
 import mesosphere.marathon.Protos.Constraint
 import mesosphere.marathon.Protos.HealthCheckDefinition.Protocol
 import mesosphere.marathon.api.JsonTestHelper
-import mesosphere.marathon.api.v2.ModelValidation
+import mesosphere.marathon.api.v2.ValidationHelper
 import mesosphere.marathon.health.HealthCheck
 import mesosphere.marathon.state.Container.Docker
 import mesosphere.marathon.state.DiscoveryInfo.Port
@@ -17,32 +17,39 @@ import play.api.libs.json.{ JsError, Json }
 
 import scala.collection.immutable.Seq
 import scala.concurrent.duration._
+import com.wix.accord._
 
 class V2AppDefinitionTest extends MarathonSpec with Matchers {
 
   test("Validation") {
-    def shouldViolate(app: V2AppDefinition, path: String, template: String) = {
-      val violations = ModelValidation.checkAppConstraints(app, PathId.empty)
-      assert(
-        violations.exists { v =>
-          v.getPropertyPath.toString == path && v.getMessageTemplate == template
-        },
-        s"Violations:\n${violations.mkString}"
-      )
+    def shouldViolate(app: V2AppDefinition, path: String, template: String): Unit = {
+      validate(app) match {
+        case Success => fail()
+        case f: Failure =>
+          val violations = ValidationHelper.getAllRuleConstrains(f)
+          assert(violations.exists { v =>
+            v.property.contains(path) && v.message == template
+          },
+            s"Violations:\n${violations.mkString}"
+          )
+      }
     }
 
-    def shouldNotViolate(app: V2AppDefinition, path: String, template: String) = {
-      val violations = ModelValidation.checkAppConstraints(app, PathId.empty)
-      assert(
-        !violations.exists { v =>
-          v.getPropertyPath.toString == path && v.getMessageTemplate == template
-        },
-        s"Violations:\n${violations.mkString}"
-      )
+    def shouldNotViolate(app: V2AppDefinition, path: String, template: String): Unit = {
+      validate(app) match {
+        case Success =>
+        case f: Failure =>
+          val violations = ValidationHelper.getAllRuleConstrains(f)
+          assert(!violations.exists { v =>
+            v.property.contains(path) && v.message == template
+          },
+            s"Violations:\n${violations.mkString}"
+          )
+      }
     }
 
     var app = V2AppDefinition(id = "a b".toRootPath)
-    val idError = "path contains invalid characters (allowed: lowercase letters, digits, hyphens, \".\", \"..\")"
+    val idError = "must fully match regular expression '^(([a-z0-9]|[a-z0-9][a-z0-9\\-]*[a-z0-9])\\.)*([a-z0-9]|[a-z0-9][a-z0-9\\-]*[a-z0-9])|(\\.|\\.\\.)$'"
     validateJsonSchema(app, false)
     shouldViolate(app, "id", idError)
 
@@ -70,7 +77,7 @@ class V2AppDefinitionTest extends MarathonSpec with Matchers {
     )
     validateJsonSchema(app, false)
 
-    app = V2AppDefinition(id = "test".toPath, ports = Seq(0, 0, 8080))
+    app = V2AppDefinition(id = "test".toPath, ports = Seq(0, 0, 8080), cmd = Some("true"))
     shouldNotViolate(
       app,
       "ports",
@@ -116,7 +123,7 @@ class V2AppDefinitionTest extends MarathonSpec with Matchers {
     shouldViolate(
       app,
       "executor",
-      "{javax.validation.constraints.Pattern.message}"
+      "must fully match regular expression '^(//cmd)|(/?[^/]+(/[^/]+)*)|$'"
     )
     validateJsonSchema(app, false)
 
@@ -124,14 +131,14 @@ class V2AppDefinitionTest extends MarathonSpec with Matchers {
     shouldViolate(
       app,
       "executor",
-      "{javax.validation.constraints.Pattern.message}"
+      "must fully match regular expression '^(//cmd)|(/?[^/]+(/[^/]+)*)|$'"
     )
     validateJsonSchema(app, false)
 
     app = correct.copy(cmd = Some("command"), args = Some(Seq("a", "b", "c")))
     shouldViolate(
       app,
-      "",
+      "value",
       "AppDefinition must either contain one of 'cmd' or 'args', and/or a 'container'."
     )
     validateJsonSchema(app, false)
@@ -139,7 +146,7 @@ class V2AppDefinitionTest extends MarathonSpec with Matchers {
     app = correct.copy(cmd = None, args = Some(Seq("a", "b", "c")))
     shouldNotViolate(
       app,
-      "",
+      "value",
       "AppDefinition must either contain one of 'cmd' or 'args', and/or a 'container'."
     )
     validateJsonSchema(app)
@@ -148,7 +155,7 @@ class V2AppDefinitionTest extends MarathonSpec with Matchers {
     shouldViolate(
       app,
       "upgradeStrategy.minimumHealthCapacity",
-      "is greater than 1"
+      "got 1.2, expected between 0.0 and 1.0"
     )
     validateJsonSchema(app, false)
 
@@ -156,7 +163,7 @@ class V2AppDefinitionTest extends MarathonSpec with Matchers {
     shouldViolate(
       app,
       "upgradeStrategy.maximumOverCapacity",
-      "is greater than 1"
+      "got 1.2, expected between 0.0 and 1.0"
     )
     validateJsonSchema(app, false)
 
@@ -164,7 +171,7 @@ class V2AppDefinitionTest extends MarathonSpec with Matchers {
     shouldViolate(
       app,
       "upgradeStrategy.minimumHealthCapacity",
-      "is less than 0"
+      "got -1.2, expected between 0.0 and 1.0"
     )
     validateJsonSchema(app, false)
 
@@ -172,7 +179,7 @@ class V2AppDefinitionTest extends MarathonSpec with Matchers {
     shouldViolate(
       app,
       "upgradeStrategy.maximumOverCapacity",
-      "is less than 0"
+      "got -1.2, expected between 0.0 and 1.0"
     )
     validateJsonSchema(app, false)
 
@@ -218,7 +225,7 @@ class V2AppDefinitionTest extends MarathonSpec with Matchers {
     )
     shouldViolate(
       app,
-      "",
+      "value",
       "Health check port indices must address an element of the ports array or container port mappings."
     )
     validateJsonSchema(app)
diff --git a/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/json/V2AppUpdateTest.scala b/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/json/V2AppUpdateTest.scala
index f6a974cd57f..a873a15741e 100644
--- a/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/json/V2AppUpdateTest.scala
+++ b/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/json/V2AppUpdateTest.scala
@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
 package mesosphere.marathon.api.v2.json
 
-import javax.validation.Validation
-
 import mesosphere.marathon.MarathonSpec
 import mesosphere.marathon.api.JsonTestHelper
+import mesosphere.marathon.api.v2.ValidationHelper
 import mesosphere.marathon.health.HealthCheck
 import mesosphere.marathon.state.Container._
 import mesosphere.marathon.state.DiscoveryInfo.Port
@@ -12,27 +11,28 @@ import mesosphere.marathon.state._
 import org.apache.mesos.{ Protos => mesos }
 import play.api.libs.json.Json
 
-import scala.collection.JavaConverters._
 import scala.collection.immutable.Seq
 import scala.concurrent.duration._
 
+import mesosphere.marathon.api.v2.Validation._
+
 class V2AppUpdateTest extends MarathonSpec {
   import Formats._
   import mesosphere.marathon.integration.setup.V2TestFormats._
 
   test("Validation") {
-    val validator = Validation.buildDefaultValidatorFactory().getValidator
-
-    def shouldViolate(update: V2AppUpdate, path: String, template: String) = {
-      val violations = validator.validate(update).asScala
-      assert(violations.exists(v =>
-        v.getPropertyPath.toString == path && v.getMessageTemplate == template))
+    def shouldViolate(update: V2AppUpdate, path: String, template: String): Unit = {
+      val violations = validate(update)
+      assert(violations.isFailure)
+      assert(ValidationHelper.getAllRuleConstrains(violations).exists(v =>
+        v.property.getOrElse(false) == path && v.message == template
+      ))
     }
 
-    def shouldNotViolate(update: V2AppUpdate, path: String, template: String) = {
-      val violations = validator.validate(update).asScala
-      assert(!violations.exists(v =>
-        v.getPropertyPath.toString == path && v.getMessageTemplate == template))
+    def shouldNotViolate(update: V2AppUpdate, path: String, template: String): Unit = {
+      val violations = validate(update)
+      assert(!ValidationHelper.getAllRuleConstrains(violations).exists(v =>
+        v.property.getOrElse(false) == path && v.message == template))
     }
 
     val update = V2AppUpdate()
@@ -42,6 +42,12 @@ class V2AppUpdateTest extends MarathonSpec {
       "ports",
       "Elements must be unique"
     )
+
+    shouldNotViolate(
+      update.copy(ports = Some(Seq(AppDefinition.RandomPortValue, 8080, AppDefinition.RandomPortValue))),
+      "ports",
+      "Elements must be unique"
+    )
   }
 
   private[this] def fromJsonString(json: String): V2AppUpdate = {
diff --git a/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/json/V2GroupUpdateTest.scala b/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/json/V2GroupUpdateTest.scala
index defc0b735b0..15da5b4faa2 100644
--- a/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/json/V2GroupUpdateTest.scala
+++ b/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/v2/json/V2GroupUpdateTest.scala
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package mesosphere.marathon.api.v2.json
 
 import mesosphere.marathon.state.{ AppDefinition, Timestamp, PathId, Group }
+import mesosphere.marathon.api.v2.Validation._
 import org.scalatest.{ GivenWhenThen, Matchers, FunSuite }
 import PathId._
 
@@ -15,7 +16,8 @@ class V2GroupUpdateTest extends FunSuite with Matchers with GivenWhenThen {
       )),
       V2GroupUpdate(
         "apps".toPath,
-        Set(V2AppDefinition("app1".toPath, dependencies = Set("d1".toPath, "../test/foo".toPath, "/test".toPath)))
+        Set(V2AppDefinition("app1".toPath, Some("foo"),
+          dependencies = Set("d1".toPath, "../test/foo".toPath, "/test".toPath)))
       )
     )
     )
@@ -24,6 +26,8 @@ class V2GroupUpdateTest extends FunSuite with Matchers with GivenWhenThen {
     When("The update is performed")
     val result = update(group, timestamp).toGroup()
 
+    validate(V2Group(result)).isSuccess should be(true)
+
     Then("The update is applied correctly")
     result.id should be(PathId.empty)
     result.groups should have size 2
@@ -41,7 +45,7 @@ class V2GroupUpdateTest extends FunSuite with Matchers with GivenWhenThen {
   test("A group update can be applied to existing entries") {
     Given("A group with updates of existing nodes")
     val actual = V2Group(PathId.empty, groups = Set(
-      V2Group("/test".toPath, apps = Set(V2AppDefinition("/test/bla".toPath))),
+      V2Group("/test".toPath, apps = Set(V2AppDefinition("/test/bla".toPath, Some("foo")))),
       V2Group("/apps".toPath, groups = Set(V2Group("/apps/foo".toPath)))
     ))
     val update = V2GroupUpdate(
@@ -55,7 +59,8 @@ class V2GroupUpdateTest extends FunSuite with Matchers with GivenWhenThen {
         ),
         V2GroupUpdate(
           "apps".toPath,
-          Set(V2AppDefinition("app1".toPath, dependencies = Set("d1".toPath, "../test/foo".toPath, "/test".toPath)))
+          Set(V2AppDefinition("app1".toPath, Some("foo"),
+            dependencies = Set("d1".toPath, "../test/foo".toPath, "/test".toPath)))
         )
       )
     )
@@ -64,6 +69,8 @@ class V2GroupUpdateTest extends FunSuite with Matchers with GivenWhenThen {
     When("The update is performed")
     val result: Group = update(actual, timestamp).toGroup()
 
+    validate(V2Group(result)).isSuccess should be(true)
+
     Then("The update is applied correctly")
     result.id should be(PathId.empty)
     result.groups should have size 2
@@ -85,8 +92,8 @@ class V2GroupUpdateTest extends FunSuite with Matchers with GivenWhenThen {
     val current = V2Group(
       "/test".toPath,
       groups = Set(
-        V2Group("/test/group1".toPath, Set(V2AppDefinition("/test/group1/app1".toPath))),
-        V2Group("/test/group2".toPath, Set(V2AppDefinition("/test/group2/app2".toPath)))
+        V2Group("/test/group1".toPath, Set(V2AppDefinition("/test/group1/app1".toPath, Some("foo")))),
+        V2Group("/test/group2".toPath, Set(V2AppDefinition("/test/group2/app2".toPath, Some("foo"))))
       )
     )
 
@@ -95,11 +102,12 @@ class V2GroupUpdateTest extends FunSuite with Matchers with GivenWhenThen {
       "/test".toPath,
       Set.empty[V2AppDefinition],
       Set(
-        V2GroupUpdate("/test/group1".toPath, Set(V2AppDefinition("/test/group1/app3".toPath))),
+        V2GroupUpdate("/test/group1".toPath, Set(V2AppDefinition("/test/group1/app3".toPath, Some("foo")))),
         V2GroupUpdate(
           "/test/group3".toPath,
           Set.empty[V2AppDefinition],
-          Set(V2GroupUpdate("/test/group3/sub1".toPath, Set(V2AppDefinition("/test/group3/sub1/app4".toPath))))
+          Set(V2GroupUpdate("/test/group3/sub1".toPath, Set(V2AppDefinition("/test/group3/sub1/app4".toPath,
+            Some("foo")))))
         )
       )
     )
@@ -107,6 +115,8 @@ class V2GroupUpdateTest extends FunSuite with Matchers with GivenWhenThen {
     val timestamp = Timestamp.now()
     val result = update(current, timestamp).toGroup()
 
+    validate(V2Group(result)).isSuccess should be(true)
+
     Then("The update is reflected in the current group")
     result.id.toString should be("/test")
     result.apps should be('empty)
@@ -138,14 +148,16 @@ class V2GroupUpdateTest extends FunSuite with Matchers with GivenWhenThen {
     val update = V2GroupUpdate(PathId.empty, Set.empty[V2AppDefinition], Set(
       V2GroupUpdate(
         "test-group".toPath,
-        Set(V2AppDefinition("test-app1".toPath),
-          V2AppDefinition("test-app2".toPath, dependencies = Set("test-app1".toPath)))
+        Set(V2AppDefinition("test-app1".toPath, Some("foo")),
+          V2AppDefinition("test-app2".toPath, Some("foo"), dependencies = Set("test-app1".toPath)))
       )
     ))
 
     When("The update is performed")
     val result = update(V2Group(Group.empty), Timestamp.now()).toGroup()
 
+    validate(V2Group(result)).isSuccess should be(true)
+
     Then("The update is applied correctly")
     val group = result.group("test-group".toRootPath)
     group should be('defined)
diff --git a/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/validation/V2AppDefinitionValidatorTest.scala b/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/validation/V2AppDefinitionValidatorTest.scala
deleted file mode 100644
index e8bc823ccde..00000000000
--- a/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/api/validation/V2AppDefinitionValidatorTest.scala
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,234 +0,0 @@
-package mesosphere.marathon.api.validation
-
-import javax.validation.ConstraintValidatorContext
-
-import mesosphere.marathon.MarathonSpec
-import mesosphere.marathon.Protos.HealthCheckDefinition
-import mesosphere.marathon.api.v2.{ ModelValidation, BeanValidation }
-import mesosphere.marathon.api.v2.json.V2AppDefinition
-import mesosphere.marathon.health.HealthCheck
-import mesosphere.marathon.state.{ Command, Container, PathId }
-import org.scalatest.Matchers
-
-class V2AppDefinitionValidatorTest extends MarathonSpec with Matchers {
-  var validator: V2AppDefinitionValidator = _
-
-  before {
-    validator = new V2AppDefinitionValidator
-  }
-
-  test("only cmd") {
-    val app = V2AppDefinition(
-      id = PathId("/test"),
-      cmd = Some("true"))
-    assert(validator.isValid(app, mock[ConstraintValidatorContext]))
-    validateJsonSchema(app)
-  }
-
-  private[this] def testValidId(id: String): Unit = {
-    val app = V2AppDefinition(
-      id = PathId(id),
-      cmd = Some("true"))
-
-    BeanValidation.requireValid(ModelValidation.checkAppConstraints(app, app.id.parent))
-
-    validateJsonSchema(app)
-  }
-
-  test("id '/app' is valid") {
-    testValidId("/app")
-  }
-
-  test("id '/hy-phenated' is valid") {
-    testValidId("/hy-phenated")
-  }
-
-  test("id '/numbered9' is valid") {
-    testValidId("/numbered9")
-  }
-
-  test("id '/9numbered' is valid") {
-    testValidId("/9numbered")
-  }
-
-  test("id '/num8bered' is valid") {
-    testValidId("/num8bered")
-  }
-
-  test("id '/dot.ted' is valid") {
-    testValidId("/dot.ted")
-  }
-
-  test("id '/deep/ly/nes/ted' is valid") {
-    testValidId("/deep/ly/nes/ted")
-  }
-
-  test("id '/all.to-9gether/now-huh12/nest/nest' is valid") {
-    testValidId("/all.to-9gether/now-huh12/nest/nest")
-  }
-
-  test("id '/trailing/' is valid") {
-    // the trailing slash is apparently ignored by Marathon
-    testValidId("/trailing/")
-  }
-
-  test("single dots in id '/test/.' pass schema and validation") {
-    testInvalid("/test/.")
-  }
-
-  test("single dots in id '/./not.point.less' pass schema and validation") {
-    testInvalid("/./not.point.less")
-  }
-
-  private[this] def testSchemaLessStrictForId(id: String): Unit = {
-    val app = V2AppDefinition(
-      id = PathId(id),
-      cmd = Some("true"))
-
-    an[IllegalArgumentException] should be thrownBy {
-      ModelValidation.checkAppConstraints(app, app.id.parent)
-    }
-
-    validateJsonSchema(app)
-  }
-
-  // non-absolute paths (could be allowed in some contexts)
-  test(s"relative id 'relative/asd' passes schema but not validation") {
-    testSchemaLessStrictForId("relative/asd")
-  }
-
-  // non-absolute paths (could be allowed in some contexts)
-  test(s"relative id '../relative' passes schema but not validation") {
-    testSchemaLessStrictForId("../relative")
-  }
-
-  private[this] def testInvalid(id: String): Unit = {
-    val app = V2AppDefinition(
-      id = PathId(id),
-      cmd = Some("true")
-    )
-
-    ModelValidation.checkAppConstraints(app, app.id.parent) should not be empty
-
-    validateJsonSchema(app, valid = false)
-  }
-
-  test("id '/.../asd' is INVALID") {
-    testInvalid("/.../asd")
-  }
-
-  test("id '/app!' is INVALID") {
-    testInvalid("/app!' i")
-  }
-
-  test("id '/app[' is INVALID") {
-    testInvalid("/app[' i")
-  }
-
-  test("id '/asd/sadf+' is INVALID") {
-    testInvalid("/asd/sadf+")
-  }
-
-  test("id '/asd asd' is INVALID") {
-    testInvalid("/asd asd")
-  }
-
-  test("id '/app-' is invalid because hyphens and dots are only allowed inside of path fragments") {
-    testInvalid("/app-")
-  }
-
-  test("id '/nest./ted' is invalid because hyphens and dots are only allowed inside of path fragments") {
-    testInvalid("/nest./ted")
-  }
-
-  test("id '/nest/-ted' is invalid because hyphens and dots are only allowed inside of path fragments") {
-    testInvalid("/nest/-ted")
-  }
-
-  test("only cmd + command health check") {
-    val app = V2AppDefinition(
-      id = PathId("/test"),
-      cmd = Some("true"),
-      healthChecks = Set(
-        HealthCheck(
-          protocol = HealthCheckDefinition.Protocol.COMMAND,
-          command = Some(Command("curl http://localhost:$PORT"))
-        )
-      )
-    )
-    assert(validator.isValid(app, mock[ConstraintValidatorContext]))
-    validateJsonSchema(app)
-  }
-
-  test("only cmd + acceptedResourceRoles") {
-    val app = V2AppDefinition(
-      id = PathId("/test"),
-      cmd = Some("true"),
-      acceptedResourceRoles = Some(Set("*")))
-    assert(validator.isValid(app, mock[ConstraintValidatorContext]))
-    validateJsonSchema(app)
-  }
-
-  test("only cmd + acceptedResourceRoles 2") {
-    val app = V2AppDefinition(
-      id = PathId("/test"),
-      cmd = Some("true"),
-      acceptedResourceRoles = Some(Set("*", "production")))
-    assert(validator.isValid(app, mock[ConstraintValidatorContext]))
-    validateJsonSchema(app)
-  }
-
-  test("only args") {
-    val app = V2AppDefinition(
-      id = PathId("/test"),
-      args = Some("test" :: Nil))
-    assert(validator.isValid(app, mock[ConstraintValidatorContext]))
-    validateJsonSchema(app)
-  }
-
-  test("only container") {
-    val app = V2AppDefinition(
-      id = PathId("/test"),
-      container = Some(Container(
-        docker = Some(Container.Docker(image = "test/image"))
-      )))
-    assert(validator.isValid(app, mock[ConstraintValidatorContext]))
-    validateJsonSchema(app)
-  }
-
-  test("empty container is invalid") {
-    val app = V2AppDefinition(
-      id = PathId("/test"),
-      container = Some(Container()))
-    assert(!validator.isValid(app, mock[ConstraintValidatorContext]))
-    validateJsonSchema(app)
-  }
-
-  test("container and cmd") {
-    val app = V2AppDefinition(
-      id = PathId("/test"),
-      cmd = Some("true"),
-      container = Some(Container()))
-    assert(validator.isValid(app, mock[ConstraintValidatorContext]))
-    validateJsonSchema(app)
-  }
-
-  test("container and args") {
-    val app = V2AppDefinition(
-      id = PathId("/test"),
-      args = Some("test" :: Nil),
-      container = Some(Container()))
-    assert(validator.isValid(app, mock[ConstraintValidatorContext]))
-    validateJsonSchema(app)
-  }
-
-  test("container, cmd and args is not valid") {
-    val app = V2AppDefinition(
-      id = PathId("/test"),
-      cmd = Some("true"),
-      args = Some("test" :: Nil),
-      container = Some(Container()))
-    assert(!validator.isValid(app, mock[ConstraintValidatorContext]))
-    validateJsonSchema(app, false)
-  }
-}
diff --git a/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/health/HealthCheckTest.scala b/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/health/HealthCheckTest.scala
index d780720b621..4980eb3ba49 100644
--- a/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/health/HealthCheckTest.scala
+++ b/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/health/HealthCheckTest.scala
@@ -1,15 +1,15 @@
 package mesosphere.marathon.health
 
-import javax.validation.Validation
-
 import mesosphere.marathon.Protos.HealthCheckDefinition.Protocol
+import mesosphere.marathon.api.v2.ValidationHelper
 import mesosphere.marathon.state.Command
 import mesosphere.marathon.{ MarathonSpec, Protos }
 import play.api.libs.json.Json
 
-import scala.collection.JavaConverters._
 import scala.concurrent.duration._
 
+import mesosphere.marathon.api.v2.Validation._
+
 class HealthCheckTest extends MarathonSpec {
 
   test("ToProto") {
@@ -263,16 +263,13 @@ class HealthCheckTest extends MarathonSpec {
     assert(readResult == expected)
   }
 
-  val validator = Validation.buildDefaultValidatorFactory().getValidator
-
-  def shouldBeInvalid(hc: HealthCheck) = {
-    val violations = validator.validate(hc).asScala
-    assert(violations.nonEmpty)
+  def shouldBeInvalid(hc: HealthCheck): Unit = {
+    assert(validate(hc).isFailure)
   }
 
-  def shouldBeValid(hc: HealthCheck) = {
-    val violations = validator.validate(hc).asScala
-    assert(violations.isEmpty, s"violations: $violations")
+  def shouldBeValid(hc: HealthCheck): Unit = {
+    val result = validate(hc)
+    assert(result.isSuccess, s"violations: ${ValidationHelper.getAllRuleConstrains(result)}")
   }
 
   test("A default HealthCheck should be valid") {
diff --git a/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/health/MarathonHealthCheckManagerTest.scala b/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/health/MarathonHealthCheckManagerTest.scala
index 3b1e18da138..2a5012b2bc0 100644
--- a/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/health/MarathonHealthCheckManagerTest.scala
+++ b/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/health/MarathonHealthCheckManagerTest.scala
@@ -314,4 +314,4 @@ class MarathonHealthCheckManagerTest extends MarathonSpec with ScalaFutures with
   }
 
   def captureEvents = new CaptureEvents(eventStream)
-}
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/integration/GroupDeployIntegrationTest.scala b/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/integration/GroupDeployIntegrationTest.scala
index eff2ff002cd..96d42fd2c32 100644
--- a/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/integration/GroupDeployIntegrationTest.scala
+++ b/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/integration/GroupDeployIntegrationTest.scala
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ class GroupDeployIntegrationTest
     val result = marathon.createGroup(group)
 
     Then("An unsuccessfull response has been posted, with an error indicating cyclic dependencies")
-    (result.entityJson \\ "error").head.as[String] should include("cyclic dependencies")
+    (result.entityJson \\ "error").filter(j => j.as[String].contains("cyclic dependencies")) should have size 1
   }
 
   test("Applications with dependencies get deployed in the correct order") {
diff --git a/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/state/EntityStoreCacheTest.scala b/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/state/EntityStoreCacheTest.scala
index e0209739488..09fbc3fa48b 100644
--- a/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/state/EntityStoreCacheTest.scala
+++ b/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/state/EntityStoreCacheTest.scala
@@ -254,4 +254,4 @@ class EntityStoreCacheTest extends MarathonSpec with GivenWhenThen with Matchers
       Future.successful(true)
     }
   }
-}
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/state/GroupManagerTest.scala b/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/state/GroupManagerTest.scala
index 868ad2a392c..f9affe9ff5a 100644
--- a/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/state/GroupManagerTest.scala
+++ b/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/state/GroupManagerTest.scala
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 package mesosphere.marathon.state
 
 import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicInteger
-import javax.validation.ConstraintViolationException
 
 import akka.actor.ActorSystem
 import akka.event.EventStream
@@ -10,7 +9,7 @@ import mesosphere.marathon.io.storage.StorageProvider
 import mesosphere.marathon.state.PathId._
 import mesosphere.marathon.test.MarathonActorSupport
 import mesosphere.marathon.tasks.TaskTrackerImpl
-import mesosphere.marathon.{ MarathonConf, MarathonSchedulerService, MarathonSpec, PortRangeExhaustedException }
+import mesosphere.marathon._
 import mesosphere.util.SerializeExecution
 import org.mockito.Matchers.any
 import org.mockito.Mockito.{ times, verify, when }
@@ -163,7 +162,7 @@ class GroupManagerTest extends MarathonActorSupport with MockitoSugar with Match
     when(f.groupRepo.zkRootName).thenReturn(GroupRepository.zkRootName)
     when(f.groupRepo.group(GroupRepository.zkRootName)).thenReturn(Future.successful(None))
 
-    intercept[ConstraintViolationException] {
+    intercept[ValidationFailedException] {
       Await.result(f.manager.update(group.id, _ => group), 3.seconds)
     }.printStackTrace()
 
diff --git a/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/state/GroupTest.scala b/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/state/GroupTest.scala
index 487f3ea1e79..69551cfa4fc 100644
--- a/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/state/GroupTest.scala
+++ b/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/state/GroupTest.scala
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 package mesosphere.marathon.state
 
-import javax.validation.ConstraintViolation
-
-import mesosphere.marathon.api.v2.ModelValidation
+import mesosphere.marathon.api.v2.Validation._
+import mesosphere.marathon.api.v2.ValidationHelper
 import mesosphere.marathon.api.v2.json.V2Group
 import mesosphere.marathon.state.AppDefinition.VersionInfo
 import mesosphere.marathon.state.PathId._
@@ -11,6 +10,8 @@ import org.scalatest.{ FunSpec, GivenWhenThen, Matchers }
 import scala.collection.JavaConverters._
 import scala.collection.immutable.Seq
 
+// import com.wix.accord.scalatest.ResultMatchers
+
 class GroupTest extends FunSpec with GivenWhenThen with Matchers {
 
   describe("A Group") {
@@ -185,7 +186,7 @@ class GroupTest extends FunSpec with GivenWhenThen with Matchers {
       changed.transitiveApps.map(_.id.toString) should be(Set("/some/nested"))
 
       Then("the resulting group should be valid when represented in the V2 API model")
-      ModelValidation.checkGroup(V2Group(changed)) should be('empty)
+      validate(V2Group(changed)).isSuccess should be (true)
     }
 
     it("cannot replace a group with apps by an app definition") {
@@ -215,9 +216,10 @@ class GroupTest extends FunSpec with GivenWhenThen with Matchers {
       changed.transitiveApps.map(_.id.toString) should be(Set("/some/nested", "/some/nested/path2/app"))
 
       Then("the conflict will be detected by our V2 API model validation")
-      val constraintViolations: Iterable[ConstraintViolation[V2Group]] = ModelValidation.checkGroup(V2Group(changed))
-      constraintViolations should be('nonEmpty)
-      constraintViolations.map(_.getMessage) should be(Set("Groups and Applications may not have the same identifier: /some/nested"))
+      val result = validate(V2Group(changed))
+      result.isFailure should be(true)
+      ValidationHelper.getAllRuleConstrains(result).head
+        .message should be ("Groups and Applications may not have the same identifier: /some/nested")
     }
 
     it("can marshal and unmarshal from to protos") {
diff --git a/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/tasks/TaskTrackerImplTest.scala b/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/tasks/TaskTrackerImplTest.scala
index 076071a2ca5..86519576f42 100644
--- a/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/tasks/TaskTrackerImplTest.scala
+++ b/src/test/scala/mesosphere/marathon/tasks/TaskTrackerImplTest.scala
@@ -429,4 +429,4 @@ class TaskTrackerImplTest extends MarathonActorSupport with MarathonSpec with Ma
     val keyWithPrefix = TaskRepository.storePrefix + key
     assert(state.allIds().futureValue.toSet.contains(keyWithPrefix), s"Key $keyWithPrefix was not found in state")
   }
-}
+}
\ No newline at end of file