N.Y.C. Admin. Code § 5-371: § 5-371 City protected by payment; recovery from person not entitled thereto.

a. Payment of the compensation awarded in the final decree to the person or persons, corporation, or body politic named therein, (if not infants or persons of unsound mind) shall, in the absence of notice to the city of other claimants to such award, protect the city.

b. Where, however, any such sum or sums, or compensation, determined in favor of any person or persons, or party or parties, whatsoever, whether or not named in such report, shall be paid to any person or persons, or party or parties, when the same shall of right belong and should have been paid to some other person or persons, or party or parties, it shall be lawful for the person or persons, or party or parties to whom the same ought to have been paid, to sue for and recover the same, with lawful interest and costs of suits, as so much money had and received to his, her or their use, by the person or persons, party or parties respectively to whom the same shall have been so paid.