(a) No person, including an officer or agent of any corporation, shall, either by payment of money or other thing of value, by solicitation, or otherwise, induce any common carrier of freight within this state, or any officers or agents of the common carrier, to discriminate unjustly in favor of that person or corporation as against any other consignor or consignee in the transportation of freight to and from points in this state; and no such person shall aid or abet any common carrier in any such unjust discrimination.

(b) Any person who violates this Code section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. In addition, any such person shall, together with such common carrier, be liable jointly or severally in an action to be brought by any consignor or consignee discriminated against for all damages caused by or resulting from the discrimination.