5-1709 - Enforcement.

§ 5-1709. Enforcement. (a) In addition to the other remedies provided,  whenever  there  shall  be a violation of this title, application may be  made by the attorney general in the name of the people of the  state  of  New York to a court of competent jurisdiction by a special proceeding to  issue  an  injunction, and upon notice to the defendant of not less than  five days, to enjoin and restrain the continuance  of  such  violations;  and  if it shall appear to the satisfaction of the court or justice that  the defendant has, in fact, violated this title, an  injunction  may  be  issued  by  such court or justice, enjoining and restraining any further  violation, without requiring proof that any person has,  in  fact,  been  injured  or damaged thereby. In any such proceedings, the court may make  allowances to the attorney general  as  provided  in  paragraph  six  of  subdivision  (a)  of  section  eighty-three  hundred  three of the civil  practice law and rules, and direct restitution. Whenever the court shall  determine that a violation of this title has  occurred,  the  court  may  impose  a  civil  penalty of not more than one thousand dollars for each  violation.  In  connection  with  any  such  proposed  application,  the  attorney general is authorized to take proof and make a determination of  the  relevant  facts and to issue subpoenas in accordance with the civil  practice law and rules.    (b) Any payee injured by a violation of this title may bring an action  for the recovery of damages. The court may award  reasonable  attorney's  fees to the prevailing plaintiff.