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.
Newton Highlands is a village of Newton, Massachusetts. Newton Highlands is largely suburban outside of the village and the commercial district running along Winchester and Needham Streets. Newton Highlands' small commercial district runs along Lincoln St. , perpendicular to Walnut St. Vendors there include: Newton Pizza House, Games and Gizmos, Walnut Market, 57 Lincoln, Baker's Best, Green Planet Kids, Bread & Lily (in the location of the former Ice Cream Works and Citrio), Kim's Nail Salon, Lincoln Street Coffee, Ohara's Food and Spirits, and others as well. The first Brighams was located in Newton Highlands. It was home to the Hyde School which was an elementary school, which burned down in a raging fire and is now condominiums. Two the south, a dense commercial district along Needham Street includes stalwarts such as China Fair,and the New England Mobile Book Fair among many others. Since 1959 the neighborhood has had its own MBTA Green Line station, Newton Highlands Station, close to this commercial center. There also is an annual celebration in June called Village Day, a general celebration for the Newton Highlands community. There is a 5 kilometer road race, crafts and local food is sold, a small carnival is set up, and local bands and musicians often entertain the crowds.