(a) All railroad companies in this state shall, at the terminus or at any intermediate point, be required to switch off and deliver to connecting roads, in the yard of such roads, all cars passing over their lines which cars contain goods or freights consigned, without rebate or deception, by any route, at the option of the shipper, according to customary or published rates, to any point over or beyond such connecting road.

(b) Any failure by a railroad company to switch off and deliver cars as required by subsection (a) of this Code section with reasonable diligence, according to the route by which such goods or freights were consigned, shall be deemed and taken as a conversion in law of such goods or freights, and shall give a right of action to the owner or consignee for the value of the goods or freights, with interest, and not less than 10 percent nor more than 25 percent for expenses and damages, provided that if the defendant in any action brought under this Code section or Code Section 46-9-213 asserts as a defense that the plaintiff has accepted a rebate or practiced fraud or deception in regard to the rate, it shall be a complete reply to such defense if the plaintiff can prove that the defendant or its agents have allowed a rebate or practiced fraud or deception in regard to the rate from the same competing point against the rival line.