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Laptop Travel Damage - Who's at Fault?
Denagoth asks: "Due to increased security measures, airport personnel are now directly handling everyone's laptop, PDA, and other electronic gizmos. Who is at fault when (not if - but I've been lucky) an airport employee drops, damages, (or even worse) loses one of these devices? Has anyone had any experience in this area and are there any legal precedents to fall back on?"
But seriously, Completecare would cover this. Man, I hate that guy ...
When I was travelling to Darmstadt rigth after 9/11, my hand luggage was searched. Inside was, among other things, an electric razer. Brute security-guard looks at it, tries opening it, but ends up instead breaking it apart. I'm told to report the damage to their "arrival office" upon arrival.
Office says it must have been badly packed. I inform them that I *saw* the guy literally breaking it apart and that the packaging doesn't really play a part. They then claim electronic devices are not covered. There's nothhing "electronic" about it I say, sure it uses electricity but there's a difference between electric and electronic. And in any case, what *should* I bring for shaving, you don't particularily like razer-blades now do you ? And are you telling me I can stand and watch one of your employees break my things apart, and then you will claim that I have to cover the loss myself ?
In the end they paid for it, but not without making a lof of unneeded fuzz about it.
That's the great thing about the federal government-- they have ultimate authority with no responsibility.
So, not only do we get LESS security in airports now that they are bringing in their DMV level idiots to handle everyone's stuff, but we have no recourse when they drop your laptop.
I've had mine dropped by a dipthong in Tulsa Oklahoma. I got upset and he got irate at me that I could be upset that he dropped my laptop! I almost decked him. If he'd said, "I'm sorry! It slipped, is it ok?" I would have not cared, but instead he was telling me to hurry up as I bent down to pick up my laptop.
Anyway, I would go after the airport. If you have damage go to the manager of the airport and take it up with them . Airports, despite being oppressed by the feds, are generally a business, even if they too are a local municipalities business. So, their guy is likely to be at least a bit concerned about market forces and try to make it right.
This is only going to get worse. After all, it was the federal government that was responsible for the poor security that lead to 9/11, and their response has been to totally take over airport security (Rather than just meddling to make it useless). The correct response would be to let each airline be responsible for its OWN security-- nobody has an interest in keeping their multimillion dollar planes intact while still providing customer service like an airline. Furthermore, with them responsible for security on their flights if something DID happen they would be facing a lawsuit-- and so they have motivation to provide good security.
With the federal government, their only motivation is power and re-electability. so if they can make noise like they are doing something bout it, and the country is mollified and at the same time get more power over us (hoe long until these weapons searches become drug searches as well?) then they are happy. And so many of you are bedwetting liberals and christian conservatives that you love the government and want it to take over your lives completely... so we have the feds--responsible for the initial failure on 9/11-- taking over the area that could prevent it. And nobody is holding them accountable.
As long as you don't hold your government accountable, you get what you deserve.
The horror stories are regular-- there's the guy who had his yacht seized by the coast guard because one of their dogs barked *once* during a boarding. They seized the yacht, tore it apart, couldn't find anything. So they decided that the fiberglass hull must be made out of cocaine (which is inane- the process would be more expensive than the value of the cocaine.) And thus they drilled 80,000 holes in the hull looking for cocaine. They didn't find anything. They boat was ruined, the guy sued, he appealed all the way to the supreme court and the supreme court ruled that he didn't have a case.
Cause you can't sue the federal government.
You call this a democracy? Stop voting for Democrats and Republicans. Stop putting up with this incompetence and poor management. And to think- you're paying %50 of your income in total taxes* for the privilege!
If you aren't outraged, you aren't paying attention.
* Some bedwetting liberal always complains about this number pointing out that the highest tax bracket is "only" (yeah, they'd love it to be more) %35. Well, lets assume you're paying some average of %25 in federal taxes. On top of that you have %16 social security (your half and your employers half-- you don't think he doesn't make *you* earn his half of that cost do you?) another %14 for medicaide, another %8 for all the money you spend in local sales taxes (assuming %8 local sales tax, that you spend most of your money locally and pay taxes, and that you only invest a small amount of your money at the long term, netting a tax of %10 on that, rather than %25 for short term investing).... that leaves %63 of your income going to taxes. And I've not even counted car tab fees, property taxes, state or local income taxes!, GASOLINE taxes which are almost %50, etc. etc. So, saying %50 of your money goes to taxes is being generous.
Yeah, and you guys panned the ipod too: http://apple.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=01/10/23
You're not thinking very clearly. If you were right, then you could choose to go to the gate without going thru the security.
You could choose to just say no to the unwarranted search.
Of course, if you did that, you'd be hauled in and questioned by the FBI.
In no way are you waiving your rights to go thru the security-- being forced to go thru the security checkpoint *AS A COURSE OF YOUR DAILY BUSINESS* without probably cause is a flat out violation of the fourth amendment.
IF it were a private company and those were the terms of your agreement with them, then you would be right.
But the federal government does not have the right to interfere with your business with the airline in this way.
IT is violating the fourth amendment.
Hell, the second amendment gives you the right to carry a gun into a court room, in a federal building.
The reason they get away with dismantling the bill of rights is so many wimps want the bill of rights dismantled and say nothing when they do.
Yeah, and you guys panned the ipod too: http://apple.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=01/10/23