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.
Natchez is a village in Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 583 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Natchitoches Micropolitan Statistical Area. It includes St. Augustine Parish (Isle Brevelle) Church. Church services were established in 1803 by Augustin Métoyer and have been held continuously since then. It is the oldest church in the US founded by and for the mixed Creole people. The church was built by sons of Métoyer and Marie Thérèse Coin-coin. Because of the significance of the Créole church's history and its centrality in the life of the community, it is featured on the Louisiana African American Heritage Trail. The village and parish are part of the Cane River National Heritage Area. Natchez is the birthplace of the late Sylvan Friedman, who served on the Natchitoches Parish Police Jury from 1932-1944, as a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1944-1952, and as a state senator from 1952-1972.