Contingencies	9 Months Ended
Feb. 28, 2019
Loss Contingency [Abstract]
Contingencies	(9) Contingencies Independent Contractor — Lawsuits and Administrative Proceedings. FedEx Ground is involved in lawsuits and administrative proceedings claiming that owner-operators engaged under operating agreements no longer in place should have been treated as employees of FedEx Ground, rather than independent contractors. In addition, we are defending joint-employer cases where it is alleged that FedEx Ground should be treated as an employer of the drivers employed by owner-operators engaged by FedEx Ground. These cases are in varying stages of litigation, and we are not currently able to estimate an amount or range of potential loss in all of these matters. However, we do not expect to incur, individually or in the aggregate, a material loss in these matters. Nevertheless, adverse determinations in matters related to owner-operators engaged by FedEx Ground could, among other things, entitle certain owner-operators to the reimbursement of certain expenses, and their drivers to certain wage payments from the owner-operators and FedEx Ground, and result in employment and withholding tax and benefit liability for FedEx Ground. We continue to believe that owner-operators engaged by FedEx Ground are properly classified as independent contractors and that FedEx Ground is not an employer or joint employer of the drivers of these independent contractors. City and State of New York Cigarette Suit. The City of New York and the State of New York filed two related lawsuits against FedEx Ground in December 2013 and November 2014 arising from FedEx Ground’s alleged shipments of cigarettes to New York residents in contravention of several statutes, including the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”) and New York’s Public Health Law, as well as common law nuisance claims. The first-filed lawsuit alleged that FedEx Ground provided delivery services on behalf of four shippers, and the second-filed lawsuit alleged that FedEx Ground provided delivery services on behalf of six additional shippers; none of these shippers continue to ship in our network. On July 10, 2017, the City of New York and the State of New York filed a third lawsuit against FedEx Ground and included FedEx Freight as a co-defendant. This additional case identified no shippers or shipments, but generally alleged violations of the same laws that were the subject of the other two lawsuits. On October 10, 2018, FedEx Ground and the City and State of New York reached an agreement in principle to settle the lawsuits arising from FedEx Ground’s and FedEx Freight’s alleged shipments of cigarettes to New York residents for $35.4 million. The settlement does not include any admission of liability by FedEx Ground or FedEx Freight. In addition to the settlement amount, we recognized approximately $10 million for certain attorney’s fees in connection with this matter. In December 2018, the parties entered into a final settlement agreement and, subsequently, the settlement amount was paid and the lawsuits were dismissed by the court. Other Matters. FedEx and its subsidiaries are subject to other legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business, including certain lawsuits containing various class-action allegations of wage-and-hour violations in which plaintiffs claim, among other things, that they were forced to work “off the clock,” were not paid overtime or were not provided work breaks or other benefits. In the opinion of management, the aggregate liability, if any, with respect to these other actions will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Contingencies

9 Months Ended

Feb. 28, 2019

(9) Contingencies

Independent Contractor — Lawsuits and Administrative Proceedings. FedEx Ground is involved in lawsuits and administrative proceedings claiming that owner-operators engaged under operating agreements no longer in place should have been treated as employees of FedEx Ground, rather than independent contractors. In addition, we are defending joint-employer cases where it is alleged that FedEx Ground should be treated as an employer of the drivers employed by owner-operators engaged by FedEx Ground. These cases are in varying stages of litigation, and we are not currently able to estimate an amount or range of potential loss in all of these matters. However, we do not expect to incur, individually or in the aggregate, a material loss in these matters. Nevertheless, adverse determinations in matters related to owner-operators engaged by FedEx Ground could, among other things, entitle certain owner-operators to the reimbursement of certain expenses, and their drivers to certain wage payments from the owner-operators and FedEx Ground, and result in employment and withholding tax and benefit liability for FedEx Ground. We continue to believe that owner-operators engaged by FedEx Ground are properly classified as independent contractors and that FedEx Ground is not an employer or joint employer of the drivers of these independent contractors.

City and State of New York Cigarette Suit. The City of New York and the State of New York filed two related lawsuits against FedEx Ground in December 2013 and November 2014 arising from FedEx Ground’s alleged shipments of cigarettes to New York residents in contravention of several statutes, including the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”) and New York’s Public Health Law, as well as common law nuisance claims. The first-filed lawsuit alleged that FedEx Ground provided delivery services on behalf of four shippers, and the second-filed lawsuit alleged that FedEx Ground provided delivery services on behalf of six additional shippers; none of these shippers continue to ship in our network. On July 10, 2017, the City of New York and the State of New York filed a third lawsuit against FedEx Ground and included FedEx Freight as a co-defendant. This additional case identified no shippers or shipments, but generally alleged violations of the same laws that were the subject of the other two lawsuits.

On October 10, 2018, FedEx Ground and the City and State of New York reached an agreement in principle to settle the lawsuits arising from FedEx Ground’s and FedEx Freight’s alleged shipments of cigarettes to New York residents for $35.4 million. The settlement does not include any admission of liability by FedEx Ground or FedEx Freight. In addition to the settlement amount, we recognized approximately $10 million for certain attorney’s fees in connection with this matter. In December 2018, the parties entered into a final settlement agreement and, subsequently, the settlement amount was paid and the lawsuits were dismissed by the court.

Other Matters. FedEx and its subsidiaries are subject to other legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business, including certain lawsuits containing various class-action allegations of wage-and-hour violations in which plaintiffs claim, among other things, that they were forced to work “off the clock,” were not paid overtime or were not provided work breaks or other benefits. In the opinion of management, the aggregate liability, if any, with respect to these other actions will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.