N.Y. Civil Rights Law Section 70-B
Unlawful interference with protected rights

1.

For the purposes of this section, the term “legally protected health activity” shall have the same meaning as defined by section 570.17 of the criminal procedure law.

2.

A claim of unlawful interference with protected rights is established under this section. Such claim shall arise when a person demonstrates that they engaged in legally protected health activity that results in litigation or criminal charges brought against that person in any court in the United States or its territories.

3.

Such claim shall arise when any person or entity commences an action in any court, in the United States or any of its territories, in which the allegations against the person, whether civil or criminal, involve legally protected health activity.

4.

In a claim for unlawful interference with protected rights under this section:

(a)

compensatory damages, as well as costs and attorneys’ fees, including expert witness fees, shall be recoverable upon a demonstration of unlawful interference; and

(b)

additional damages of up to three times the amount of compensatory damages shall be recoverable upon an additional demonstration that the action against the plaintiff was commenced or continued for the purpose of harassing, intimidating, punishing or otherwise maliciously inhibiting the exercise of rights protected in New York, including but not limited to legally protected health activity.

5.

Any action or proceeding brought pursuant to this section shall be commenced no later than six years after the date on which the claim under this section arises.

6.

Nothing in this section shall affect or preclude the right of any party to any recovery otherwise authorized by common law, or by statute, law or rule.

7.

An action under this section shall be brought in the Supreme Court of the state of New York.

Source: Section 70-B — Unlawful interference with protected rights, https://www.­nysenate.­gov/legislation/laws/CVR/70-B (updated Dec. 26, 2025; accessed Jan. 24, 2026).

70
Vexatious suits 70–A
Actions involving public petition and participation 70–B
Unlawful interference with protected rights 71
Damages in action for suing in name of another 72
Term of imprisonment of civil prisoner 73
Code of fair procedure for investigating agencies 74
Privileges in action for libel 75
Defamation by radio or television 76
Action for libel: evidence, separate verdicts 76–A
Actions involving public petition and participation 77
Special damages in action for slander of a woman 78
Mitigating circumstances in action for libel or slander 79
Forfeiture of office and suspension of civil rights 79–A
Consequence of sentence to imprisonment for life 79–B
Forfeiture of property on conviction abolished 79–C
Convict protected by law 79–D
Creditor of convict 79–E
Right to breast feed 79–F
Liability for acts of persons assisting police officers 79–G
Filing of certificates of honorable discharge with county clerks 79–H
Special provisions relating to persons employed by, or connected with, news media 79–I
Discrimination against person who refuses to perform certain act prohibited 79–J
Confidentiality of records in multi-state information system 79–K
Civil immunity for certain persons assisting in emergency situations 79–L
Confidentiality of records of genetic tests 79–M
Criminal interference with health care services, religious worship, funeral, burial or memorial service 79–N
Bias-related violence or intimidation 79–N*2
Funeral or bereavement leave 79–O
Closed captioning in places of public accommodation, resort or amusement 79–P
Recording certain activities 79–P*2
Gender neutral single-occupancy bathroom facilities 79–Q
Collection of gender or sex designation information by state agencies
Green check means up to date. Up to date

Verified:
Jan. 24, 2026

Last modified:
Dec. 26, 2025

§ 70-B. Unlawful interference with protected rights's source at nysenate​.gov

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