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.
Matlock is an unincorporated community in Mason County, Washington, United States. Matlock is the primary population center for the western part of Mason County, a sporadically populated logging area. The most notable sites are the church, food bank, general store, post office, local grange hall, and the Mary M. Knight school, grades kindergarten through senior high school; the school mascot is the Knight Owl, a rarely commented on pun. Matlock features nearby lakes and recreational opportunities, including fishing, hiking, and horseback riding. The nearest lake is the sparkling Lake Nahwatzel. Every year in first full weekend in May, Matlock hosts the Old Timer's Festival at Mary M. Knight School campus. Here you can find food, crafts, tractors, and fun for the whole family. Matlock is located northwest of Olympia, Washington, about a 20 minute drive from the county seat, Shelton. Related link: Matlock page of official Mason County Tourism website