Well here is the story
Yesterday evening, I was leaving from IAD. I get through that sorry excuse they have for lines there, and place my items on the conveyor belt, and here is where the problem starts. They are running two Xray lines with a single WTMD, so you have twice as many people trying to get through a single WTMD. Anyway, the line of people backs up to walk through. Further, over half the people going through are either SSSS or getting sent to the secondary for alarms, or not following the stupid directions. The result of this process is that the exit side of the X-Ray machine is getting really backed up as no one is clearing their items from the belt, because they are in secondary.
Anyway, my stuff goes through the X-ray in a specific order as requested by the TSA folks (Tray items first, then your luggage). While I am waiting to clear the WTMD, I see my items come out on the other end. Eventually, the tray that has my laptop in it is pushed over a portion the other trays at the end of the belt. At this time one of the TSA people who is managing this line decides to start pulling the trays off the belt, as they need more trays. Well she starts pulling the trays, and pulls them so hard that several of the trays flip off the belt, because of her forcefull movement of the trays. The contents of these trays ends up on the floor of the xray side of the belt, including my jacket, shoes and my laptop, as well as another persons belongings. Once I got through the line I picked up my stuff and checked my laptop. Open it up and discover that the screen is cracked in areas and shattered in others. I show it to the screener and say look what you did. Her response, you should have gotten here sooner.
Ask for a complaint form and a supervisor. Explain the situation to the supervisor, who despite everything, was actually understanding. He gave me a form for damaged property, and told me to fill out the details. He even signed it under the description of event/loss area. However, he told me it is unlikely that I will see any money from TSA for the damage.
Unfortuantely, the repairs/replacement will come out of my pocket, as I don't have the lovely insurance/corporate replacement plans that many of you have. I have called my insurance company, and they said they would get back to me on what they may or may not pay, but my guess is around $500 if I am lucky.
Just thought I would share this with you all. What would you have done in this situation?