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.
Beaver Falls is a hamlet in the Town of Croghan, west of the Village of Croghan, in Lewis County, New York. The hamlet is home to a population of around 500 (2007 estimate). The hamlet is split into two sections, divided by the Beaver River, which flows down from the village of Croghan. Three bridges cross the river, two vehicle bridges on the upper and lower ends of the hamlet, and a third railway trestle which crosses the river in the center of town behind the Latex Mill. Main street, once a busy district during the early 20th century is now all but stripped of commercial business, with only the Latex Mill and J.P. Lewis Mill still in opertation, and the Post office and Fire Department residing there.