waterworks/Steinway/liability

[A440A@AOL.COM]

 <This newly acquired instrument was just stabilizing
nicely...what a mess, tuning all over the place. The 
keyframe is knocking in the bass section.
    No visible damage, but lots of stressed out people
to deal with, and a report to write up on the piano.  
    Anyone wish to share any liability stories         
or have comments. >>

Greetings, 
   First, don't put yourself in a corner.  It may take several weeks or a 
month or two for the damage to show itself,so assume an accurate assessment 
any earlier is going to be risky, and this is no place for a technician to 
begin assuming ANY risk. 
 
    A set of present crown measurements could be useful a month or two after 
the event. Those plus downbearing figures might help the insurance company 
decide not to fight it and if indicated, send it back for a new board. (A 
stage with a new D is no place to start compromising).  
     Don't attempt to assuage the faculty,  you don't want to have to defend 
what may turn into a dog next year, when that board has fallen and can't get 
up.  If you don't see any structural change,  but they generally agree that 
the piano has "lost its sound", their impressions are going to set the tone 
for how this instrument is regarded. Expect an outside tech to be brought in 
for a second opinion.  
   The insurance people would love to have you in there fighting for them, 
but that shouldn't be your job.  Keep things loose for a while and don't get 
rushed into writing anything in concrete, yet. 
Good luck, 
Ed Foote RPT