§ 8-108. Duty to transmit telegrams; liability for damages

   (a) Duty to transmit telegrams. -- A telegraph company doing business in this State shall:

   (1) receive telegrams from and for other telegraph companies and from or for any individual; and

   (2) except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, transmit telegrams received:

      (i) in the manner established by the rules and regulations of the telegraph company;

      (ii) in the order received; and

      (iii) with impartiality and good faith.

(b) Exception. -- Subsection (a) of this section does not apply to a telegraph company that makes an arrangement with newspapers for the transmission of information of general and public interest out of the order received for the purpose of publication.

(c) Penalty. -- A telegraph company that violates subsection (a) of this section is liable to the person sending or desiring to send the telegram for:

   (1) $ 100 for each instance of neglect or refusal to receive or transmit a telegram; and

   (2) the costs of the suit.

HISTORY: An. Code 1957, art. 23, § 322; 1998, ch. 8, § 2.