diff --git a/litellm/exceptions.py b/litellm/exceptions.py
index 51923f86eb..c440d7eabe 100644
--- a/litellm/exceptions.py
+++ b/litellm/exceptions.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ from openai.error import (
 )
 
 
-class AuthenticationError(AuthenticationError):
+class AuthenticationError(AuthenticationError): # type: ignore
     def __init__(self, message, llm_provider):
         self.status_code = 401
         self.message = message
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ class AuthenticationError(AuthenticationError):
         )  # Call the base class constructor with the parameters it needs
 
 
-class InvalidRequestError(InvalidRequestError):
+class InvalidRequestError(InvalidRequestError): # type: ignore
     def __init__(self, message, model, llm_provider):
         self.status_code = 400
         self.message = message
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ class InvalidRequestError(InvalidRequestError):
         )  # Call the base class constructor with the parameters it needs
 
 
-class RateLimitError(RateLimitError):
+class RateLimitError(RateLimitError): # type: ignore
     def __init__(self, message, llm_provider):
         self.status_code = 429
         self.message = message
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ class RateLimitError(RateLimitError):
         )  # Call the base class constructor with the parameters it needs
 
 
-class ServiceUnavailableError(ServiceUnavailableError):
+class ServiceUnavailableError(ServiceUnavailableError): # type: ignore
     def __init__(self, message, llm_provider):
         self.status_code = 500
         self.message = message
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ class ServiceUnavailableError(ServiceUnavailableError):
         )  # Call the base class constructor with the parameters it needs
 
 
-class OpenAIError(OpenAIError):
+class OpenAIError(OpenAIError): # type: ignore
     def __init__(self, original_exception):
         self.status_code = original_exception.http_status
         super().__init__(
diff --git a/litellm/llms/base.py b/litellm/llms/base.py
index bde09f2fb0..bf6a3dd3a3 100644
--- a/litellm/llms/base.py
+++ b/litellm/llms/base.py
@@ -2,11 +2,11 @@
 
 
 class BaseLLM:
-    def validate_environment():  # set up the environment required to run the model
+    def validate_environment(self):  # set up the environment required to run the model
         pass
 
-    def completion():  # logic for parsing in - calling - parsing out model completion calls
+    def completion(self):  # logic for parsing in - calling - parsing out model completion calls
         pass
 
-    def embedding():  # logic for parsing in - calling - parsing out model embedding calls
+    def embedding(self):  # logic for parsing in - calling - parsing out model embedding calls
         pass
diff --git a/litellm/timeout.py b/litellm/timeout.py
index cca4b06e70..d88e16c96e 100644
--- a/litellm/timeout.py
+++ b/litellm/timeout.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ from threading import Thread
 from openai.error import Timeout
 
 
-def timeout(timeout_duration: float = None, exception_to_raise=Timeout):
+def timeout(timeout_duration: float = 0.0, exception_to_raise=Timeout):
     """
     Wraps a function to raise the specified exception if execution time
     is greater than the specified timeout.
diff --git a/litellm/utils.py b/litellm/utils.py
index 3190b56d66..a14b5f8f1e 100644
--- a/litellm/utils.py
+++ b/litellm/utils.py
@@ -504,11 +504,11 @@ def get_optional_params(
 
 def load_test_model(
     model: str,
-    custom_llm_provider: str = None,
-    custom_api_base: str = None,
-    prompt: str = None,
-    num_calls: int = None,
-    force_timeout: int = None,
+    custom_llm_provider: str = "",
+    custom_api_base: str = "",
+    prompt: str = "",
+    num_calls: int = 0,
+    force_timeout: int = 0,
 ):
     test_prompt = "Hey, how's it going"
     test_calls = 100