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.
Hauppauge is a hamlet in the Town of Islip and the Town of Smithtown in Suffolk County, New York, United States. At the headwaters of the Nissequogue River, it derives its name from the Native American term for "overflowed land. " The Hauppauge Industrial Park, located at the edge of the hamlet, is the largest on Long Island, and by some accounts the second largest in the nation. The park has over 1,300 companies, and employs over 55,000 Long Islanders. The companies in the industrial park provide the tax revenue that makes up the bulk of the Hauppauge school district's budget. As a result, school taxes for residents are relatively low, while the budget for schools is actually higher than usual. It is noted for its well-funded schools, with multiple internet-accessible computers in every classroom and many after-school activities, including a drama club with over 200 members.