and this is based on what ? some written policy of AA ? personal experience ? If you go to court, you not only have to prove that there was damage, but that AA was somehow at fault for that damage. As the plaintiff, you don't have that evidence, because AA was not at fault. Just because something happened on their plane does not make AA liable. Maybe you think there was no actual turbulence and it was just 2 fun-loving bored pilots who shook the stick for a good laugh ?.

If you file in small claims court, AA isn't going to send their team of corporate attorneys from DFW; they'll probably send the station manager from LAX or some other front line person to respond. That costs AA very little.