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.
Hoquiam is a city in Grays Harbor County, Washington, United States. The town borders Aberdeen at Myrtle Street with Hoquiam on the west side. The two cities share a common economic history in lumber and exporting, but Hoquiam has maintained a separate identity from its neighbor. Aberdeen has a larger population but the two cities have a long history of competition, especially in high school sports (see "Athletics"). The population was 9,097 at the 2000 census. Hoquiam (Ho'-kwee-um) was incorporated on May 21, 1890. Its name is taken from a Native-American language meaning "hungry for wood". Hoquiam is the home of the internationally acclaimed Loggers' Playday, celebrated with a parade and logging competition every September. Although lumber and related industries have been slow for years, plans for a bio-diesel plant are in the works (Imperium Renewables Bio-Diesel opened in 2007). Bowerman Airfield (KHQM) is the local airport, coastal Washington's only jet-capable airport, with a 5,000-foot (1,524 m) runway and parallel taxiway located a stone's throw from the inlet that gives Grays Harbor its name. Hoquiam is also home to dozens of species of migrating birds which live along the water during the milder months.