I agree completely although I think the amount, written in the fine print of the contract you enter into when buying tickets, is $1,350 although that probably included hotel, etc.
Munoz and the LEO are going to take the fall; the LEO is already down about three steps of the flight of stairs and I suspect Munoz is too, we just have not heard of it.
Bad management, including poor but binding instructions. Bad implementation of those instructions (calling for law enforcement to physically remove a customer 'in good standing' (he paid and was just sitting there)) and finally, poor execution of that poor solution.
I think the flight crew, specifically the P.I.C., also bears some responsibility; he / she should have been present and actively prevented, or at least tried to prevent the use of excessive force to remove that passenger. I can hear echos of "I was only doing my job" on that one.
At any rate, United will certainly pay far more than the $1,000 or $1,350 'limit' now, although I have my doubts that this latest event will get them any closer to their claim of offering "the friendly skies".
Brian
Here's my guess, the local manager had discretion to offer up to $1000 but needed approval to go above that. And was told that the flight crew HAD to be on that plane so United didn't have to cancel the flight that the crew was headed to. So you put those 2 competing directives together along with a weak manager or perhaps a culture of discouraging independent decision making and this is what you get. If this is true than Oscar should take the fall.