Narrative Summary

I specialize in restoring vintage turntables. I sold a pristine $1,200 unit and shipped it via FedEx. I always take photos of my items resting inside their heavily padded boxes right before I tape them shut. The package arrived with a massive gouge through the side, and the turntable's dust cover was shattered. FedEx denied the claim, issuing a generic rejection that "the shipper failed to properly isolate fragile components."

The Resolution Strategy

When an adjuster rejects a claim for "inadequate packaging" without inspecting the box, they are making an arbitrary assumption. Federal law provides a direct mechanism to invalidate that assumption.

The Authori claims platform drafted a rebuttal anchored entirely on the Carmack Amendment (49 U.S.C. § 14706). To establish a prima facie case under Carmack, a shipper only needs to prove three things: the goods were tendered in good condition, they arrived damaged, and the amount of damages.

The appeal letter included the time-stamped, pre-shipment photos showing the pristine turntable securely isolated in four inches of foam. The appeal explicitly stated that these photos satisfied the first prong of the Carmack Amendment, thereby establishing FedEx's strict liability for the subsequent transit damage. By proving the origin condition and citing federal carrier liability law, the appeal stripped away the adjuster's ability to arbitrarily blame the packaging. FedEx reversed the decision and issued the $1,200 check.