In every case of loss, damage, destruction or failure to deliver any property by a common carrier shipped over its line or any connecting line, the initial, every intermediate and the terminal carrier, upon notice of such loss, damage, destruction or failure to deliver, shall within forty days trace such property lost, damaged or destroyed and inform the person so notifying it when, where and by which carrier the property was lost, damaged or destroyed. Every carrier, failing or refusing to trace such property and inform the notifying party as above stated, within forty days after such notice, shall be liable for the full amount of the claim for loss, damage, destruction or failure to deliver, in the same manner and to the same extent as if such loss, damage, destruction or failure to deliver occurred on its line, and, in addition thereto, a penalty of fifty dollars upon each claim, to be recovered in any court of competent jurisdiction in the same action with the claim or in a separate action. The claimant shall also be entitled to recover interest on his claim from the date of filing it. If such initial, intermediate or terminal carrier upon the trial of the case shall prove that it exercised due diligence and was unable to trace the property and inform the person notifying it as above provided, it shall thereupon be excused from liability under this section. The action authorized hereunder may be commenced in any county in the State in which the carrier with which the claim is filed is engaged in business.

HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 58-572; 1952 Code Section 58-572; 1942 Code Section 7164; 1932 Code Section 7164; Civ. C. '22 Section 3886; Civ. C. '12 Section 2572; Civ. C. '02 Section 1710; 1894 (21) 822; 1910 (26) 717.