Section 15. (a) In addition to any other remedies provided by law, a violation of sections two, three, eight or sections eleven to fourteen, inclusive, which has substantially influenced the action taken by any county agency in any particular matter, shall be grounds for avoiding, rescinding or cancelling the action on such terms as the interests of the county and innocent third persons require.

(b) The state ethics commission may bring a civil action against any person who has acted to his economic advantage in violation of sections two, three, or eight, or eleven to fourteen, inclusive, and may recover on behalf of the county damages in the amount of the economic advantage or five hundred dollars, whichever is greater. If there has been no final criminal judgment of conviction or acquittal of the same violation, upon receipt of the written approval of the attorney general and the district attorney, the state ethics commission may, in the discretion of the court, recover additional damages in an amount not exceeding twice the amount of the economic advantage, and a judgment for such damages shall bar any criminal prosecution for the same violation.