Sorry 411A, I am still very surprised by this analogy. I cannot believe that Federal Aviation Authority rules do not require a Captain to ensure that the aircraft under his command is properly loaded and fit for flight. An inoperative fuel guage is not an uncommon occurence, and it would normally require the careful scrutiny of the crew ( but especially the captain). Dripping the aircraft would surely have been done by an engineer or one of the crew, or more likely the flight engineer. To entrust such an action to a refueller is particularly odd ? The next cross check (the fuel uplift) would usually be monitored by one of the crew. Checking the bowser delivery meter is a simple matter. Not only does it confirm the uplift, but it ensures you are not being short changed. With three crew and a defective system is it not (under FAA rules) just a tiny bit incumbent upon the Captain to apply reasonable cross checks that are not totally devolved to refullers or other contractors ?
Good job the Captain saved the day, because his apparant negligence ( and that of the crew under his command) would seem to have contributed to it.