diff --git a/src/dapla_metadata/variable_definitions/exceptions.py b/src/dapla_metadata/variable_definitions/exceptions.py
index 7407d1e..1f9039f 100644
--- a/src/dapla_metadata/variable_definitions/exceptions.py
+++ b/src/dapla_metadata/variable_definitions/exceptions.py
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ def __init__(self, response_body: str) -> None:
                         the detail is a list with field and message.
             response_body (str): The raw response body string, stored for
                                 debugging purposes.
-
         """
         self.detail: str | list
         try:
@@ -40,7 +39,13 @@ def __init__(self, response_body: str) -> None:
             self.status = data.get("status", "Unknown status")
             if data.get("title") == "Constraint Violation":
                 violations = data.get("violations", [])
-                self.detail = self._format_violations(violations)
+                self.detail = [
+                    {
+                        "field": violation.get("field", "Unknown field"),
+                        "message": violation.get("message", "No message provided"),
+                    }
+                    for violation in violations
+                ]
             else:
                 self.detail = data.get("detail", "No detail provided")
             self.response_body = response_body
@@ -50,23 +55,6 @@ def __init__(self, response_body: str) -> None:
             data = None
         super().__init__(f"Status {self.status}: {self.detail}")
 
-    def _format_violations(self, violations: list) -> list:
-        """Format a list of violations into a readable string.
-
-        Args:
-            violations (list): List of violation dictionaries with 'field' and 'message'.
-
-        Returns:
-            str: Formatted string of violations.
-        """
-        return [
-            {
-                "Field": violation.get("field", "Unknown field"),
-                "Message": violation.get("message", "No message provided"),
-            }
-            for violation in violations
-        ]
-
 
 def vardef_exception_handler(method):  # noqa: ANN201, ANN001
     """Decorator for handling exceptions in Vardef."""
diff --git a/tests/variable_definitions/vardef_client/test_exceptions.py b/tests/variable_definitions/vardef_client/test_exceptions.py
index bcb6ddf..1f81928 100644
--- a/tests/variable_definitions/vardef_client/test_exceptions.py
+++ b/tests/variable_definitions/vardef_client/test_exceptions.py
@@ -34,8 +34,8 @@ def test_invalid_json():
     response_body = "Not a JSON string"
     exc = VardefClientException(response_body)
     assert exc.status == "Unknown"
-    assert exc.detail == "Invalid response body"
-    assert str(exc) == "Status Unknown: Invalid response body"
+    assert exc.detail == "Could not decode error response from API"
+    assert str(exc) == "Status Unknown: Could not decode error response from API"
 
 
 def test_missing_keys():
@@ -50,11 +50,11 @@ def test_constraint_violation():
     response_body = CONSTRAINT_VIOLATION_BODY
     exc = VardefClientException(response_body)
     assert exc.status == BAD_REQUEST_STATUS
-    assert exc.detail[0]["Message"] == "Invalid Dapla team"
+    assert exc.detail[0]["message"] == "Invalid Dapla team"
     assert (
         str(exc) == "Status 400: ["
-        "{'Field': 'updateVariableDefinitionById.updateDraft.owner.team', 'Message': 'Invalid Dapla team'}, "
-        "{'Field': 'updateVariableDefinitionById.updateDraft.owner.team', 'Message': 'must not be empty'}]"
+        "{'field': 'updateVariableDefinitionById.updateDraft.owner.team', 'message': 'Invalid Dapla team'}, "
+        "{'field': 'updateVariableDefinitionById.updateDraft.owner.team', 'message': 'must not be empty'}]"
     )
 
 
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ def test_constraint_violation_missing_messages():
     response_body = CONSTRAINT_VIOLATION_BODY_MISSING_MESSAGES
     exc = VardefClientException(response_body)
     assert exc.status == BAD_REQUEST_STATUS
-    assert exc.detail[0]["Message"] == "No message provided"
+    assert exc.detail[0]["message"] == "No message provided"
 
 
 def test_constraint_violation_empty_violations():
@@ -78,6 +78,6 @@ def test_constraint_violation_empty_field():
     assert exc.status == BAD_REQUEST_STATUS
     assert str(exc) == (
         "Status 400: ["
-        "{'Field': 'Unknown field', 'Message': 'Invalid Dapla team'}, "
-        "{'Field': 'Unknown field', 'Message': 'must not be empty'}]"
+        "{'field': 'Unknown field', 'message': 'Invalid Dapla team'}, "
+        "{'field': 'Unknown field', 'message': 'must not be empty'}]"
     )