Contingencies	9 Months Ended
Feb. 29, 2020
Loss Contingency [Abstract]
Contingencies	(10) Contingencies Service Provider Lawsuits. FedEx Ground is defending lawsuits in which it is alleged that FedEx Ground should be treated as an employer of drivers employed by service providers 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 these matters could, among other things, entitle service providers’ drivers to certain wage payments from the service providers and FedEx Ground, and result in employment and withholding tax and benefit liability for FedEx Ground. We continue to believe that FedEx Ground is not an employer or joint employer of the drivers of these independent businesses. Federal Securities Litigation and Derivative Lawsuits. On June 26, 2019 and July 2, 2019, FedEx and certain present and former officers were named as defendants in two putative class action securities lawsuits filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The complaints, which have been consolidated, allege violations of Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder relating to alleged misstatements or omissions in FedEx’s public filings with the SEC and other public statements during the period from September 19, 2017 to December 18, 2018. We are not currently able to estimate the probability of loss or the amount or range of potential loss, if any, at this stage of the litigation. On September 17, 2019 and November 6, 2019, FedEx, its Board of Directors and certain present and former directors and officers were named as defendants in two stockholder derivative lawsuits filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware. The complaints, which have been consolidated, repeat the allegations in the federal securities litigation complaints discussed above, and assert new claims against the FedEx Board of Directors and certain present and former directors and officers for breach of fiduciary duty, waste of corporate assets, unjust enrichment, insider selling and violations of the federal securities laws. We are not currently able to estimate the probability of loss or the amount or range of potential loss, if any, at this stage of the litigation. Environmental Matters. SEC regulations require disclosure of certain environmental matters when a governmental authority is a party to the proceedings and the proceedings involve potential monetary sanctions that management reasonably believes could exceed $100,000. Prior to our acquisition of TNT Express, a lawsuit was filed in Simões Filho, Bahia, Brazil against a subsidiary of TNT Express alleging violations of Brazilian environmental laws. Specifically, the lawsuit alleges that in 2012, certain employees unlawfully discarded non-toxic trash on a highway. We could be subject to monetary sanctions and fines related to such activity that exceed $100,000. We believe that the aggregate amount of any such sanctions and fines will be immaterial. 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. 29, 2020

(10) Contingencies

Service Provider Lawsuits. FedEx Ground is defending lawsuits in which it is alleged that FedEx Ground should be treated as an employer of drivers employed by service providers 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 these matters could, among other things, entitle service providers’ drivers to certain wage payments from the service providers and FedEx Ground, and result in employment and withholding tax and benefit liability for FedEx Ground. We continue to believe that FedEx Ground is not an employer or joint employer of the drivers of these independent businesses.

Federal Securities Litigation and Derivative Lawsuits. On June 26, 2019 and July 2, 2019, FedEx and certain present and former officers were named as defendants in two putative class action securities lawsuits filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The complaints, which have been consolidated, allege violations of Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder relating to alleged misstatements or omissions in FedEx’s public filings with the SEC and other public statements during the period from September 19, 2017 to December 18, 2018. We are not currently able to estimate the probability of loss or the amount or range of potential loss, if any, at this stage of the litigation.

On September 17, 2019 and November 6, 2019, FedEx, its Board of Directors and certain present and former directors and officers were named as defendants in two stockholder derivative lawsuits filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware. The complaints, which have been consolidated, repeat the allegations in the federal securities litigation complaints discussed above, and assert new claims against the FedEx Board of Directors and certain present and former directors and officers for breach of fiduciary duty, waste of corporate assets, unjust enrichment, insider selling and violations of the federal securities laws. We are not currently able to estimate the probability of loss or the amount or range of potential loss, if any, at this stage of the litigation.

Environmental Matters. SEC regulations require disclosure of certain environmental matters when a governmental authority is a party to the proceedings and the proceedings involve potential monetary sanctions that management reasonably believes could exceed $100,000.

Prior to our acquisition of TNT Express, a lawsuit was filed in Simões Filho, Bahia, Brazil against a subsidiary of TNT Express alleging violations of Brazilian environmental laws. Specifically, the lawsuit alleges that in 2012, certain employees unlawfully discarded non-toxic trash on a highway. We could be subject to monetary sanctions and fines related to such activity that exceed $100,000. We believe that the aggregate amount of any such sanctions and fines will be immaterial.

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.