Effective 28 Aug 1996

387.060. Motor carriers to furnish correct rates on written request — penalty and damages for failure. — 1. It shall be the duty of every motor carrier doing an intrastate business within this state, upon written request therefor, by any person who is a bona fide prospective shipper or receiver of household goods or who has a bona fide interest therein, made upon any general or local freight or station agent of such carrier, by any person, firm or corporation, to furnish and give a written statement of the rate or charge applicable to a described shipment between stated points or places in this state under the schedule or tariffs to which such carrier is a party, within a reasonable time; and if such carrier shall refuse or omit to give such statement within a reasonable time, or shall misstate in writing the applicable rate, and if the person, firm or corporation making such request suffers in consequence of such refusal or omission or in consequence of the misstatement of the rate, either through making the shipment over a route for which the proper rate is higher than the rate over another available route, or through entering into any sale, purchase or contract whereunder such person, firm or corporation obligates himself, themselves or itself, or becomes obligated to make or receive such shipment of household goods at his, their or its cost, then the said carrier shall be liable pursuant to the provisions of sections 390.156 to 390.176 and be recovered in a civil action by the division of motor carrier and railroad safety, and shall also be liable to the person, firm or corporation injured as aforesaid for the amount of such injury, together with six percent interest thereon from the date of such injury, and with a reasonable attorney's fee; provided, that no such liability shall be discharged by such carrier unless the same be approved by the division as being free from any attempt or purpose to evade any other law of this state; and provided further, that, if during the course of any action upon such liability to the person injured, it shall appear to the satisfaction of the court or jury trying any such cause, that the parties have combined or agreed to obtain or allow any undue advantage or rebate or preference to such injured person, upon a finding to that effect, such cause shall be dismissed and the dismissal and finding reported by said court to the division. Such dismissal shall be taken and deemed a final judgment, and appeal may be taken therefrom or from any other judgment in any such cause the same as in other civil cases.

2. No carrier making any settlement or payment upon the approval of the division or pursuant to a judgment or order of court under this section shall be liable for any penalty or forfeiture or subject to any prosecution under any other law of this state on account of the said payment or settlement.

3. The division may require from any person, firm or corporation any information deemed by the division necessary to the determination of the question whether it shall give its approval to any such claim, and if the same be refused by the injured person, may decline said claim, and it shall not be sued upon thereafter; if such information be refused or request therefor be evaded or the search for information by the division be made difficult by the carrier, the division shall endorse such fact on said claim and it shall thereafter support an action as if approved by the division.

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(RSMo 1939 § 5606, A.L. 1996 S.B. 780)

Prior revisions: 1929 § 5150; 1919 § 10439