docs: def _initialize_from_dict(self, data):
          """
          Loads serializer from a request object
          """
          self._json = data
          self._validate()
  
          for name, value in self._json.items():
              if name in self._properties:
                  if '$ref' in self._properties[name]:
                      if 'decimal' in self._properties[name]['$ref']:
                          value = Decimal(value)
  
                  # applying proper formatting when required
                  if 'format' in self._properties[name]:
                      format = self._properties[name]['format']
  
                      if 'date-time' == format:
                          value = utils.string_to_datetime(value)
                      elif 'date' == format:
                          value = utils.string_to_date(value)
                  setattr(self, name, value)