N.Y. General Business Law § 772: Penalty for fraud

§ 772. Penalty for fraud. 1. Any owner who is induced to contract for

a home improvement, in reliance on false or fraudulent written

representations or false written statements, may sue and recover from

such contractor a penalty of five hundred dollars plus reasonable

attorney's fees, in addition to any damages sustained by the owner by

reason of such statements or representations. In addition, if the court

finds that the suit by the owner was without arguable legal merit, it

may award reasonable attorney's fees to the contractor.

2. Nothing in this article shall impair, limit, or reduce the

statutory, common law or contractual duties or liability of any

contractor.