addressController.js

create = {
  handler: function(request, reply) {
    return new Address().save({
      name: request.payload.name,
      address_line1: request.payload.address_line1
    }).then(function(model) {
      return new Address({
        'id': model.id
      }).fetch().then(function(model) {
        return reply(model);
      });
    }, function(error) {
      return reply(error);
    });
  }
};

addressModel.js

Address = Db.Model.extend({
  tableName: 'addresses',
  validate: function() {

    var basicValidation, payload, schema;
    payload = this.clone();
    schema = {
      name: Joi.string().max(50).required(),
      address_line1: Joi.string().required()
    };
    
    basicValidation = Joi.validate(payload.toJSON(), schema, {
      stripUnknown: true
    });
    
    if(basicValidation) {
      throw new Error(basicValidation.message);  
    } else {
     return; 
    }
  }
});

modelBase.js

db.Model.prototype.initialize = function() {
  this.on('saving', this.validate, this);
};

terminal.out

Possibly unhandled Error: the value of name is not allowed to be undefined
    at Db.Model.extend.validate (/Users/peternagel/workspace/lob/lob-api/build/app/models/addressesModel.js:66:13)

@PeteOtto An unhandled error is definitely not something to ignore. Can you try it again with the extraneous code cut from the controller? (https://gist.github.com/bendrucker/9417825#file-addresscontroller-js)