Is the TSA immune from liablity to damage to the contents of your luggage?
 

Flying from Dallas to Orlando, the contents of the bag that the TSA inspected was soaked, because a closed liquid that was in a new, thick zop-lock bag had been punctured with a sharp object (the bag and the container). There was nothing in my luggage that could have caused the puncture, so it had to be due to the TSA inspection. On another trip, they opened a bottle of Febreeze that had been shut tight and put in a zip lock bag-the bottle was open and out of the bag on arrival. I've had costume jewelry that had been in a secure container opened and strewn about my luggage and an earring lost.

None of this was a huge deal...I had to launder all the clothes on the spring break trip immediately upon arrival and the lap top wasn't ruined. But it made me think-does the TSA have total governmental immunity, such that they can lose or ruin the contents of your luggage without liablity?

I think, and this is just my opinion, that you would have to prove that the damage was caused by the TSA and that would be difficult.

I'm left with a couple of questions.
Aren't the liquids you are taking through checkin suppose to be out of your luggage?
Isn't it quite risky packing liquids with a laptop?

I've had that same thing happen (to a bottle of shampoo). I always thought it was due to pressure changes in the luggage hold. ???

I would add too, that if people care about liability on their luggage (and who doesn't) they should read the disclaimer from the airline (I believe it is in FINE print on the luggage ticket stub).

They will not cover loss or damage to jewelry, "fragile items", electronics, antiques (their call), etc. I learned this when my son's suitcase was lost and never found.

^ Oh, and prescriptions (including eyeglasses, and medical devices).

Might add that TSA aren't the only ones to handle your checked bags.

Lol, when I got to my destination I had shampoo all over my clothes! I smelled really good for about 12 days! All in good stride... I'd rather have the baggage searches and feel safer on flights...even if it means I smell like lavender all week.

I agree that your assumption that it "had to be due" is faulty.

And I honestly WISH I THOUGHT that TSA inspections make baggage "safer" but I don't. There have been too many reported incidences of things getting through those inspections.

And remember, TSA thought for the longest time that turning on a cell phone or a computer was a method whereby they could detect hidden devices.

My assumption that it was the TSA is based on the fact that whenever there is something messed up inside my checked luggage, that is always the bag that has the "inspected by TSA" paper inside. We are a family of 5 and often have 5-6 checked bags. Only the ones with the TSA paper inside have had problems.