660 - Construction. - New York Statutes

§ 660. Construction. 1. This article neither enlarges nor diminishes the rights of parties in private litigation except as provided in this section. 2. Any person who has been injured by reason of any violation of this article may bring an action in his own name to enjoin such unlawful act or practice, an action to recover his actual damages or fifty dollars, whichever is greater, or both such actions. The court may, in its discretion, increase the award of damages to an amount not to exceed three times the actual damages, up to ten thousand dollars, together with an award for reasonable attorney's fees, if the court finds the defendant willfully or knowingly violated this section. 3. The attorney general may enforce the provisions of this article by exercising the powers granted to him or her by subdivision twelve of section sixty-three of the executive law. 4. Whenever the court shall determine that an operator has engaged in repeated fraudulent or illegal acts, as defined in subdivision twelve of section sixty-three of the executive law, in violation of section six hundred fifty-three, six hundred fifty-four, six hundred fifty-five, six hundred fifty-six or six hundred fifty-seven of this article, the court may impose a civil penalty of not more than five hundred dollars for each such act.