public SeedingStrategy getSeedingStrategy() {

		SeedingStrategy seedStrat = null;
		if(this.randomIndexRadioButton.isSelected()) {
			//use a random index SeedingStrategy
			int numCases = -1;
			try {
				numCases = Integer.parseInt(this.numInitialCasesTextField.getText());
			} catch (NumberFormatException nfe) {
				this.numInitialCasesTextField.setText("Fix Me");
				return null;
			}

			seedStrat = new RandomCaseAllocation(model, numCases);
		} else {

			int laCases = -1;
			int nycCases = -1;
			int chicagoCases = -1;
			int atlantaCases = -1;
			int denverCases = -1;
			int dallasCases = -1;
			int miamiCases = -1;

			//la
			try {
				laCases = Integer.parseInt(this.losAnglesTextField.getText());
			} catch (NumberFormatException nfe) {
				this.losAnglesTextField.setText("Fix Me");
				return null;
			}

			//nyc
			try {
				nycCases = Integer.parseInt(this.nycTextField.getText());
			} catch (NumberFormatException nfe) {
				this.nycTextField.setText("Fix Me");
				return null;
			}
			//chicago
			try {
				chicagoCases = Integer.parseInt(this.chicagoTextField.getText());
			} catch (NumberFormatException nfe) {
				this.chicagoTextField.setText("Fix Me");
				return null;
			}
			//atlanta
			try {
				atlantaCases = Integer.parseInt(this.atlantaTextField.getText());
			} catch (NumberFormatException nfe) {
				this.atlantaTextField.setText("Fix Me");
				return null;
			}
			//denver
			try {
				denverCases = Integer.parseInt(this.denverTextField.getText());
			} catch (NumberFormatException nfe) {
				this.denverTextField.setText("Fix Me");
				return null;
			}
			//dallas
			try {
				dallasCases = Integer.parseInt(this.dallasTextField.getText());
			} catch (NumberFormatException nfe) {
				this.dallasTextField.setText("Fix Me");
				return null;
			}
			//miami
			try {
				miamiCases = Integer.parseInt(this.miamiTextField.getText());
			} catch (NumberFormatException nfe) {
				this.miamiTextField.setText("Fix Me");
				return null;
			}

			//use a custom SeedingStrategy
			seedStrat = new CustomSeedingStrategy(model);

			CustomSeedingStrategy css = (CustomSeedingStrategy) seedStrat;
			css.addCity("LA", laCases);
			css.addCity("NYC-A", nycCases);
			css.addCity("Chicago-A", chicagoCases);
			css.addCity("Atlanta", atlantaCases);
			css.addCity("Denver", denverCases);
			css.addCity("Dallas", dallasCases);
			css.addCity("Miami", miamiCases);
		}

		return seedStrat;
	}