[Steve Carlton]

A friend of mine and I dropped off our cars at a car wash we regularly use (we have yearly passes). We walk down the street and have breakfast while we're waiting, so the cars are parked to the side when we return. Today, I walk up to my car and there's a 5" horizontal, deep scratch about 2" below the driver's door handle. NO WAY was that there when I got into the car at home and when I dropped it off, it's too hard to miss (white scratch against black paint).

I didn't know what would be fair, but I brought it to the attention of the manager, who immediately got defensive, saying his guys didn't do it and saying it's not his liability. I figure it could have happened with an employee's belt buckle (it was an off-line wash) when washing or drying it. Or, it could have been done by a vandal while parked 30' away from their employees on their property. When I got pissed and said "Merry Christmas" as I opened the door to leave, the manager said he wanted to be fair and talk about it (all I wanted myself). He reiterated he wasn't liable; I said I wasn't so sure as there was a bailment. Then he said he'd see what he could do and call me back. So far I haven't heard. I'm tending to think they should pay for it in full. What do you guys think? What's the law?