No officer, agent, or employee of the City shall render himself personally
liable for any damage that may accrue to persons or property as a result of
any act required or permitted in the discharge of his duties under this chapter.
Any suit brought against any officer, agent, or employee of the City as a
result of any act required or permitted in the discharge of his duties under
this chapter, shall be defended by the Corporation Counsel until the final
determination of the proceedings therein.
The Corporation Counsel shall, upon complaint of the Housing Code Inspector,
or upon his own motion, institute appropriate action to restrain, prevent,
enjoin, abate, correct, or remove such violation and take such other legal
action as is necessary to carry out the terms and provisions of this chapter.
The remedies provided for herein shall be cumulative and not exclusive
and shall be in addition to any other remedies provided by law, and all remedies
may be pursued concurrently or consecutively, and the pursuit of any remedy
shall not be construed as an election or the waiver of the right to pursue
any and all of the others.
Any person or persons jointly or severally aggrieved by any final order
of the Housing Code Inspector may seek to have such order reviewed by the
Supreme Court in the manner prescribed by Article 78 of the Civil Practice
Law and Rules and as otherwise provided for in the laws of the State of New
York.
A.
Any person who shall knowingly and willfully violate
or assist in the violation of this chapter shall, upon conviction, be punished
by a fine for the first offense in the amount not to exceed $250 or by imprisonment
not exceeding 15 days or by both said fine and imprisonment for each offense.
For a second offense committed within 12 months, the fine shall not exceed
$500 or imprisonment not exceeding 15 days, or both said fine and imprisonment
for each offense. For a third and subsequent violation committed within 12
months, the fine shall not exceed $1,000 or imprisonment not exceeding 15
days, or both said fine and imprisonment for each offense. Each day that such
violation continues shall constitute a separate offense.
B.
The penalties heretofore prescribed shall not be imposed
upon a person who by operation of law acquires premises containing violations
for which a violation order has been issued for a period of six months after
the date of such acquisition of the premises. Nevertheless, the penalties
provided shall attach and apply either upon the expiration date of such six-month
period or upon transfer of title to the premises before the expiration of
such period, whichever first occurs.
