Carrier Liability for Loss or Damage to Household Goods

A carrier claimed a refund of an amount set off by the Air Force for damages to a member's household goods while in transit from storage to the member's residence. The claim was denied because: although a carrier receiving packaged goods from a warehouse or another carrier is not required to unpack and examine goods to prepare an inventory, the loss or damage to goods which pass through several custodians is presumed to occur with the last custodian; a shipper establishes a prima facie case of carrier liability for loss or damage in transit by failure to deliver the same quantity or quality of goods at destination, and it is the carrier's burden to show by affirmative evidence that loss or damage did not occur in its custody; a determination by an administrative office that additional damage was caused is accepted by GAO in the absence of contrary evidence; and carriers of household goods have entered into agreements with branches of the military departments to accept liability for damages or loss reported to the carrier within 30 days of delivery.