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.
Evansville is a city in the the southwestern portion of the U.S. state of Indiana, the third-largest city in Indiana after Indianapolis and Fort Wayne. The largest city in Southern Indiana, the city had a total population of 121,582, and a metropolitan population of 342,815 as of the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Vanderburgh County and the regional hub for the Illinois-Indiana-Kentucky Tri-State Area. Settled in 1812, the city is situated on a gentle horseshoe bend on the Ohio River and often referred to as "River City. " One of the most popular attractions in the region is Casino Aztar, the first riverboat casino in the state of Indiana. Evansville is also home to both the University of Evansville and the University of Southern Indiana. The broad economic base of the region has helped to build an economy which is known for its stability, diversity, and vitality. In 2004 Evansville was named an "All-America City" by the National Civic League. In 2008 it was voted the best city in the country in which "to live, work, and play" by the readers of Kiplinger, and in 2009 the 11th best.