Narrative Summary

I shipped my $4,000 cello across the country in a custom, $1,200 carbon-fiber flight case. The package was mishandled, and a heavy object pierced the outer cardboard box, completely shattering the carbon-fiber flight case. Miraculously, the cello inside survived. I filed a claim for the $1,200 case. FedEx approved the claim but capped the payout at $1,000, citing their strict extraordinary value limit for "musical instruments."

The Resolution Strategy

FedEx claims software flags any tracking number associated with "guitars," "cellos," or "instruments" and instantly applies the $1,000 limit, ignoring the actual details of the damage report.

Using an Authori-generated appeal letter, the defense successfully separated the contents from the container using FedEx Service Guide Section 16.

The drafted appeal pointed out a critical legal distinction: a flight case is not a musical instrument. It does not produce sound. Legally, the case is classified as protective luggage or a commercial accessory. The appeal successfully argued that the $1,000 cap on musical instruments did not apply because the instrument itself was unharmed; the claim was strictly for a $1,200 piece of commercial luggage. FedEx conceded the definitional error and issued the remaining $200.