N.Y. Rapid Transit Law § 53: Corporation counsel to acquire property

§ 53. Corporation counsel to acquire property. a. Whenever and as

often as the board of transportation shall deem it to be necessary and

proper that the city should acquire any such property and shall have

caused such maps or plans and memoranda specifying and defining the

property to be acquired, or to which are appurtenant the property rights

to be acquired or extinguished, to be made and shall have certified,

filed and transmitted the several copies of such maps or plans as

prescribed in section fifty-two of this chapter, such board may direct

the corporation counsel to take legal proceedings to acquire the same

for the city, and the corporation counsel shall thereupon take legal

proceedings as provided in this chapter.

b. The corporation counsel, either in person or by such counsel as he

shall designate for the purpose, shall appear for and protect the

interests of the city in all such proceedings. He shall furnish the

court with such necessary clerks and other employees as it may require.

All necessary expenses incurred by the corporation counsel in and about

the proceedings provided for by this chapter for the proper presentation

and defense of the interests of the city, shall be paid by the

comptroller out of the funds referred to in section sixty-nine of this

chapter. Property owners appearing in proceedings under this chapter

shall not be entitled to recover counsel fees, costs, disbursements or

allowances.