diff --git a/connect/models/country.py b/connect/models/country.py
index 90792b9..f26e649 100644
--- a/connect/models/country.py
+++ b/connect/models/country.py
@@ -8,12 +8,12 @@
 
 
 class Country(BaseModel):
-    """ An instance of a hub. """
+    """ Country data. """
 
     _schema = CountrySchema()
 
     name = None  # type: str
-    """ (str) Country name """
+    """ (str) Country name. """
 
     icon = None  # type: str
     """ (str) Icon path. """
diff --git a/connect/models/fulfillment.py b/connect/models/fulfillment.py
index 2677e3e..d35aa47 100644
--- a/connect/models/fulfillment.py
+++ b/connect/models/fulfillment.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 # Copyright (c) 2019 Ingram Micro. All Rights Reserved.
 
 import datetime
+from typing import Union
 
 from .asset import Asset
 from .base import BaseModel
@@ -73,8 +74,8 @@ class Fulfillment(BaseModel):
     marketplace = None  # type: Marketplace
     """ (:py:class:`.Marketplace`) Marketplace object. """
 
-    assignee = None  # type: User
-    """ (:py:class:`.User`) Details of the user assigned to the request. """
+    assignee = None  # type: Union[User, str, None]
+    """ (:py:class:`.User` | None) Details of the user assigned to the request. """
 
     @property
     def new_items(self):
diff --git a/connect/models/product_stats.py b/connect/models/product_stats.py
index 2da7e8d..4b6d65e 100644
--- a/connect/models/product_stats.py
+++ b/connect/models/product_stats.py
@@ -20,4 +20,4 @@ class ProductStats(BaseModel):
     """ (:py:class:`.ProductStatsInfo`) Agreements related to the product. """
 
     contracts = None  # type: ProductStatsInfo
-    """ (:py:class:`.ProductStatsInfo`) Contracts related to the product """
+    """ (:py:class:`.ProductStatsInfo`) Contracts related to the product. """
diff --git a/connect/models/schemas.py b/connect/models/schemas.py
index 3d20f55..78ff6c8 100644
--- a/connect/models/schemas.py
+++ b/connect/models/schemas.py
@@ -545,6 +545,15 @@ def make_object(self, data):
         return Asset(**data)
 
 
+class AssigneeField(fields.Field):
+    def _deserialize(self, value, attr, obj, **kwargs):
+        from connect.models.user import User
+        if isinstance(value, six.string_types):
+            return value
+        else:
+            return User.deserialize_json(value)
+
+
 class FulfillmentSchema(BaseSchema):
     type = fields.Str()
     created = fields.DateTime()
@@ -557,7 +566,7 @@ class FulfillmentSchema(BaseSchema):
     asset = fields.Nested(AssetSchema)
     contract = fields.Nested(ContractSchema, only=('id', 'name'))
     marketplace = fields.Nested(MarketplaceSchema, only=('id', 'name'))
-    assignee = fields.Nested(UserSchema, allow_none=True)
+    assignee = AssigneeField(allow_none=True)
 
     @post_load
     def make_object(self, data):
diff --git a/tests/data/response.json b/tests/data/response.json
index fabe6f6..53029e2 100644
--- a/tests/data/response.json
+++ b/tests/data/response.json
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@
     "reason": "",
     "status": "approved",
     "type": "purchase",
-    "updated": "2019-02-19T19:28:11.053922+00:00"
+    "updated": "2019-02-19T19:28:11.053922+00:00",
+    "assignee": ""
   }
 ]
diff --git a/tests/data/response2.json b/tests/data/response2.json
index 3740ef1..a32a23a 100644
--- a/tests/data/response2.json
+++ b/tests/data/response2.json
@@ -255,6 +255,9 @@
     "id": "PR-5620-6510-8214",
     "status": "approved",
     "type": "purchase",
-    "updated": "2018-09-04T10:38:58.045330+00:00"
+    "updated": "2018-09-04T10:38:58.045330+00:00",
+    "assignee": {
+      "id": "Assignee"
+    }
   }
 ]
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/test_models.py b/tests/test_models.py
index 5a21ad4..c1732fa 100644
--- a/tests/test_models.py
+++ b/tests/test_models.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 import six
 from mock import MagicMock, patch
 
-from connect.models import Asset, Param, Fulfillment, Item, TierConfig, Configuration
+from connect.models import Asset, Param, Fulfillment, Item, TierConfig, Configuration, User
 from connect.resources import FulfillmentAutomation
 from .common import Response, load_str
 
@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@ def test_create_model_from_response():
     assert request_obj.asset.id == content['asset']['id']
     assert request_obj.asset.product.id == content['asset']['product']['id']
     assert isinstance(request_obj.asset.external_id, six.string_types)
+    assert request_obj.assignee == ''
 
 
 @patch('requests.get', MagicMock(return_value=_get_response_ok2()))
@@ -112,6 +113,8 @@ def test_fulfillment_items():
     assert len(requests) == 1
     request = requests[0]
     assert isinstance(request, Fulfillment)
+    assert isinstance(request.assignee, User)
+    assert request.assignee.id == 'Assignee'
 
     # Test new items
     new_items = request.new_items