Buy a new drill. Invite them over for free treatment. Hold them hostage. Should get the loss covered and then some.

0 liability for valuable items? when are they liable then? For my $3 tube of toothpaste?

number 1 is right

Find out what they will claim, and state that's what was in it instead. Make the value even more than $2,000 and get your money's worth! What do you have to lose?

Two words: Travel Insurance. If you're traveling with anything valuable, please get it next time!

I'm in insurance.... File a claim... If you have homeowners or renters insurance..... They will reimburse your property, no matter where you are!! Trust me!!! My name is jake and i actually work at State farm as an insurance salesman in training!

Well, you could check with a lawyer, except if you signed something saying that you agree to that.... Then you're pretty much screwed. Hope it was insured, if it wasn't then you learned a lesson, always insure expensive things.

Will they be liable for the inevitable foot that gets lost when someone shoves It up their metal arse with those rules?

14 CFR Part 254 - google it. Department of Transportation requires airlines to reimburse you for up to $3,300 of luggage value.

Perhaps you should consider carry-on for the more expensive pieces next time.