New York Consolidated Laws, Public Service Law - PBS § 93. Liability for loss or damage caused by violation of this chapter

In case any telegraph corporation or telephone corporation shall do or cause to be done or permit to be done any act, matter or thing prohibited, forbidden or declared to be unlawful, or shall omit to do any act, matter or other thing required to be done, either by law of the state of New York by this chapter or by any order of the commission, such telegraph corporation or telephone corporation shall be liable to the person or corporation affected thereby for all loss, damage or injury caused thereby or resulting therefrom and in case of recovery if the court shall find that such act or omission was willful it may in its discretion fix a reasonable counsel or attorney's fee, which fee shall be taxed and collected as a part of the costs in the action.  An action to recover for such loss, damage or injury may be brought in any court of competent jurisdiction by any such person or corporation.