B-270114: May 22, 1996

A carrier claimed reimbursement for an Air Force offset for lost freight, contending that it should not be responsible for items prepacked by a nontemporary storage contractor. GAO held that the carrier was liable for the missing items, since it: (1) was the last contractor to possess such goods before delivery; and (2) offered no evidence that the loss did not occur in its custody. Accordingly, t...

B-270114: May 22, 1996

A delivering carrier is responsible for the loss of. A service member's household goods that were prepacked by a nontemporary storage contractor if the service member otherwise presents a prima facie case of liability against the delivering carrier. While the carrier may not have a general obligation to open prepacked containers of household goods to examine their contents. The carrier is the last...