N.Y. Real Property Tax Law § 957: Enforcement; penalties

§ 957. Enforcement; penalties. 1. The attorney general may enforce the

provisions of section nine hundred fifty-three, subdivision one of

section nine hundred fifty-five, or subdivision two of section nine

hundred fifty-six of this title by exercising the powers granted to him

or her by subdivision twelve of section sixty-three of the executive

law.

2. Whenever the court shall determine that a defendant has engaged in

repeated fraudulent or illegal acts, as defined in subdivision twelve of

section sixty-three of the executive law, in violation of section nine

hundred fifty-three, subdivision one of section nine hundred fifty-five

or subdivision two of section nine hundred fifty-six of this title, the

court may impose a civil penalty of not more than one thousand dollars

for each violation of subdivision one, two or four of section nine

hundred fifty-three, subdivision one of section nine hundred fifty-five

or subdivision two of section nine hundred fifty-six of this title and

not more than two hundred fifty dollars for each violation of

subdivision three, five, six, seven, eight or nine of section nine

hundred fifty-three of this title, unless the defendant shows by a

preponderance of the evidence that the violation resulted from a bona

fide error made notwithstanding the maintenance of procedures reasonably

adopted to avoid any such error.

3. 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.

4. Nothing in this section shall preclude a mortgagor from obtaining

any relief or remedy at law or in equity to which such mortgagor may be

entitled, including those remedies and relief provided for in

subdivision one of section nine hundred fifty-six of this title.