Civil liability

§ 675. Civil liability. 1. Any person found to be in violation of this article shall be liable to the aggrieved consumer for all actual damages sustained by such consumer as a result of the violation, provided that any consumer who prevails or substantially prevails in an action brought under this section shall receive not less than five hundred dollars in damages, regardless of the amount of actual damage proved, plus costs, disbursements and reasonable attorneys' fees. 2. Whenever there shall be a violation of this article, an application may be made by the attorney general in the name of the people of the state of New York to a court or justice having 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 violation; and if it shall appear to the satisfaction of the court or justice that the defendant has, in fact, violated this article, 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 proceeding, 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 article has occurred, the court may impose a civil penalty of not more than one thousand dollars for such 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. 3. No action may be brought under the provisions of this section unless such action is commenced within two years from the date of the act complained of or of the date of discovery of such act.