69-14-322. Actions to recover excess charges. - Montana Statutes

     69-14-322. Actions to recover excess charges. (1) Any sum or amount of money paid to any railroad by any person or shipper in excess of the rates, tolls, or charges fixed and established by the commission for such service may be recovered from such railroad by the person or shipper in any action instituted and maintained in the district court of the county in which such payment was made. No contract or agreement, written or otherwise, between such person or shipper and the railroad shall be admissible in evidence for the purpose of showing a waiver of the right given by this section. No voluntary payment by any person or shipper of any such excess or overcharge to any railroad shall be or be held to be a waiver on the part of such person or shipper of the right to sue and recover for such excess or overcharge as provided for in this section. If upon the trial of such action it shall satisfactorily appear to the court or jury that such overcharge was willfully made, the person or shipper bringing the action shall be awarded damages in treble the amount of such excess or overcharge, together with the costs and expenses of such action, including a reasonable attorney's fee, to be taxed and collected as other costs in the action.
     (2) An action under this section must be brought within 3 years from the date the cause of action accrues.

     History: En. Sec. 26, Ch. 37, L. 1907; Sec. 4389, Rev. C. 1907; re-en. Sec. 3808, R.C.M. 1921; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 155, L. 1925; re-en. Sec. 3808, R.C.M. 1935; R.C.M. 1947, 72-130; amd. Sec. 41, Ch. 43, L. 1979.