§ 660 — Construction

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