There is "Do I have a case?" and reality. Not enough info here but I can tell you the people who work at the airlines have been found, by reliable press sources, to not fully inform passengers of their rights. Personally, I would find out everything I could, put some info together, incl proof of loss, audiotapes (NY is one-party state-can call their 800# and have them reiterate), and contact the CEO, cert mail, with exhibits and flash drive of calls seeking some sort of reimbursement. It is better to contact the CEO at his/her home address, BTW (property records are public info and there are all kinds of places to find out this info). I happen to know where Michael Dell lives, sent a nice holiday card with a copy of my complaint that previously was bounced all over India, and someone from Round Rock sent me two laptops and later a check for $600 came from the NY OAG (not even an atty then, either-just knew how to access property records after taking Zoning Law from a prominent judge). Otherwise, often, some staffer way down the line, not even in the same bldg, or even same state/country, handles the inquiry and not in the right way, in my experience. I used to work for the office of the Pres of a large Wall St bank handling pres/CEO complaints and I sat near his office but this is NOT the norm these days. Litigation is expensive so even when people believe they have a case, in legalese, the elements mght not be there and/or potential damages are low, or so it seems, so it may be tough to get an atty to take it on contingency so your best bet might be going another way.