Consumer protection refers to the laws designed to aid retail consumers of goods and services that have been improperly manufactured, delivered, performed, handled, or described. Such laws provide the retail consumer with additional protections and remedies not generally provided to merchants and others who engage in business transactions, on the premise that the consumers do not enjoy a sufficient bargaining position with respect to the businessmen with whom they deal and therefore should not be strictly limited by the legal rules that govern recovery for damages among businessmen. The overarching goal is to protect individuals and the interest of the public in general from unfair and misleading activity in business and commerce (such as false advertising and deceptive trade practices) and scams perpetrated by criminals (such as identity theft and pyramid schemes) that harm a substantial number of consumers.
Paradise Valley is an affluent town in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the town was 14,558. Despite the town's relatively small area and population compared to other municipalities in the Phoenix metropolitan area, Paradise Valley is home to twelve resorts, making it one of Arizona's premiere tourist destinations. It has exclusive real estate, with a median home price at $1.74 million, with many exceeding $5 million and some over $20 million. It should not be confused with the village in northeast Phoenix, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Arizona. For instance, Paradise Valley Community College, Paradise Valley High School, Paradise Valley Hospital, Paradise Valley Mall, and Paradise Valley Golf Course are all located several miles to the north, in Phoenix - a considerable, but accessible distance from the town that actually bears their name. The town's name along with all the other various entities bearing the same name comes from the expansive area known as Paradise Valley, that spreads from north of the Phoenix mountains to Cave Creek & Carefree on the north and the McDowell Mountains to the east. Residents attend schools in the Scottsdale Unified School District. There is a Paradise Valley Unified School District, and it is one of the largest in the state, though like many other institutions with Paradise Valley's name, it operates in Phoenix.