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.
Geneseo is a city in Henry County, Illinois, United States. The population was 6,480 at the 2000 census. The city government is organized under an Aldermanic form. The Mayor is elected at large for a two year term. The Mayor (Linda Van Der Leest) serves as Chief Executive Officer and also Presiding Officer over the City Council of Geneseo. The City Council consists of eight aldermen representing four individual wards. (Ward 1, Edward Deener and Lowell Ewert - Ward 2, Arnie Schmid and Robert Wachtel - Ward 3, Keith Kennett and Karen West - Ward 4, Joshua Pierce and Curt Spensley) Geneseo is known for its Victorian style homes and its "Rockwellian quaintness. " It is often compared to the Andy Griffith Show and its town, Mayberry R.F.D. Geneseo is also well known nation wide. During the month of December, Geneseo hosts an annual "Christmas Walk. " Until 2008 the annual "Christmas Walk" was known as the "Victorian Walk. "Downtown businesses offer in store hospitality and feature live window displays depicting holiday traditions from different decades, 2008 will feature the 1940's. This town is also home to the famous gun manufacturing company, Springfield Armory, Inc. which is located on Main Street. It employs many of the town's citizens and is a vital part of the economy. Springfield Armory, Inc. is currently operated by the Reese family. For recreation, just north of Geneseo,IL runs the historic 104.5 mile Hennepin Canal Parkway spreading through five counties.