method to sanitize model parameters

        Parameters
        ---------
        None

        Returns
        -------
        None

def _validate_params(self):
        """
        method to sanitize model parameters

        Parameters
        ---------
        None

        Returns
        -------
        None
        """
        self.distribution = NormalDist(scale=self.scale)
        super(LinearGAM, self)._validate_params()