One time I was at a stroe that sold trinkets made of glass and things like that. They had a lounge area were people can hang out. I sat down on this seat and when I did that the sit went backwards and I fell and hit this shelf and knocked down soem glass items and broke some of them. The store person looked at me and the objects for a second, then told me its ok, and dont worry about it.
I think in this situation they may have felt that it was their fault because I had fallen and I could maybe turn around and say I was hurt or something. If its store neglect like they placed something where someone could knock it over etc, then they would be held responsible. But lifting a canopy on a tank that probably required 2 people, having a sign saying not to touch it and ask for assistance, is not quite the same.
Even if there isnt a sign, it was broken fully by your actions. Had you asked for assistance and it broke while you and the strore employee were holding it, then you might not be fully responsible. Same would be true if their was neglect on the store where it was placed and how it was placed.
