diff --git a/common/utils/json_format.py b/common/utils/json_format.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d1672e4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common/utils/json_format.py
@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
+"""
+Monkey patched json_format to allow best effort decoding of Any fields.
+Use the additional flag (strict_any_handling=False) to trigger the
+best-effort behavior. Omit the flag, or just use the original json_format
+module fot the strict behavior.
+"""
+
+from google.protobuf import json_format
+
+class _PatchedPrinter(json_format._Printer):
+
+    def __init__(self, including_default_value_fields=False,
+                 preserving_proto_field_name=False,
+                 strict_any_handling=False):
+        super(_PatchedPrinter, self).__init__(including_default_value_fields,
+                                              preserving_proto_field_name)
+        self.strict_any_handling = strict_any_handling
+
+    def _BestEffortAnyMessageToJsonObject(self, msg):
+        try:
+            res = self._AnyMessageToJsonObject(msg)
+        except TypeError:
+            res = self._RegularMessageToJsonObject(msg, {})
+        return res
+
+
+def MessageToDict(message,
+                  including_default_value_fields=False,
+                  preserving_proto_field_name=False,
+                  strict_any_handling=False):
+    """Converts protobuf message to a JSON dictionary.
+
+    Args:
+      message: The protocol buffers message instance to serialize.
+      including_default_value_fields: If True, singular primitive fields,
+          repeated fields, and map fields will always be serialized.  If
+          False, only serialize non-empty fields.  Singular message fields
+          and oneof fields are not affected by this option.
+      preserving_proto_field_name: If True, use the original proto field
+          names as defined in the .proto file. If False, convert the field
+          names to lowerCamelCase.
+      strict_any_handling: If True, converion will error out (like in the
+          original method) if an Any field with value for which the Any type
+          is not loaded is encountered. If False, the conversion will leave
+          the field un-packed, but otherwise will continue.
+
+    Returns:
+      A dict representation of the JSON formatted protocol buffer message.
+    """
+    printer = _PatchedPrinter(including_default_value_fields,
+                              preserving_proto_field_name,
+                              strict_any_handling=strict_any_handling)
+    # pylint: disable=protected-access
+    return printer._MessageToJsonObject(message)
+
+
+def MessageToJson(message,
+                  including_default_value_fields=False,
+                  preserving_proto_field_name=False,
+                  strict_any_handling=False):
+  """Converts protobuf message to JSON format.
+
+  Args:
+    message: The protocol buffers message instance to serialize.
+    including_default_value_fields: If True, singular primitive fields,
+        repeated fields, and map fields will always be serialized.  If
+        False, only serialize non-empty fields.  Singular message fields
+        and oneof fields are not affected by this option.
+    preserving_proto_field_name: If True, use the original proto field
+        names as defined in the .proto file. If False, convert the field
+        names to lowerCamelCase.
+    strict_any_handling: If True, converion will error out (like in the
+        original method) if an Any field with value for which the Any type
+        is not loaded is encountered. If False, the conversion will leave
+        the field un-packed, but otherwise will continue.
+
+  Returns:
+    A string containing the JSON formatted protocol buffer message.
+  """
+  printer = _PatchedPrinter(including_default_value_fields,
+                            preserving_proto_field_name,
+                            strict_any_handling=strict_any_handling)
+  return printer.ToJsonString(message)
+
+
+json_format._WKTJSONMETHODS['google.protobuf.Any'] = [
+    '_BestEffortAnyMessageToJsonObject',
+    '_ConvertAnyMessage'
+]
+
+json_format._Printer._BestEffortAnyMessageToJsonObject = \
+    json_format._Printer._AnyMessageToJsonObject