After 5 days of JFK baggage service not returning my calls (or anyone else's, apparently, since their voice mail was full yesterday afternoon) I got in touch with the main office in Salt Lake City and was assigned a contact person. They're supposed to send a claim form, which must be completed and returned by Jan. 14 in order to be considered for reimbursement.
I got complacent and checked baggage without incident for years. Obviously it's time to rethink. A challenge in this TSA environment and for some of the leisure travel I do...
Happy New Year, everyone!