In 2013, plaintiffs Brian Gruzalski, an aircraft maintenance technician, Stanley Langevin, a lead aircraft maintenance technician, and Mark Collins, a manager of hangar operations, complained that they believed that their employer, FedEx, failed to maintain its aircraft consistent with Federal Aviation Administration safety requirements. Collins also claimed that FedEx failed to accommodate his disability. Shortly thereafter, Gruzalski was terminated, Langevin was demoted and Collins was refused a promotion. Gruzalski sued FedEx Corp.; FedEx Corporate Services Inc.; FedEx Express; and his supervisors, Dexter Collier and Kevin Kelly. Langevin and Collins brought a separate action against FedEx Corp.; Federal Express Corp.; and their supervisors, Steven Sobczak, William Cusato, Jack Earls, Traci May-Hill, David Logan and Frank Boortz. The cases were ultimately consolidated, and the plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed their claims against FedEx Corporate Services and all the individual defendants. FedEx Corp. was also dismissed pursuant to motions for summary judgment. Thus, the matter continued against Federal Express Corp. and FedEx Express only. Gruzalski, Langevin and Collins claimed that they were wrongfully disciplined in retaliation for alleging that the company failed to maintain its aircraft consistent with FAA safety requirements. Defense counsel contended that Gruzalski was fired for repeated violations of the acceptable conduct policy by using inappropriate language in the workplace, including profane and derogatory comments about this co-workers, and that Gruzalski did not deny using inappropriate language. Counsel also contended that it disciplined Gruzalski for raising concerns about aircraft after they departed. In regard to Langevin, defense counsel contended that Langevin was demoted for admittedly using inappropriate language and racist nicknames in the workplace. Counsel also contended that Langevin was disciplined for moonlighting for other airlines while on the clock and using FedEx’s equipment. In regard to Collins, defense counsel contended that the decision to not promoted Collins had nothing to do with his complaint, but was due to Collins not being the most qualified candidate. Counsel further contended that FedEx reasonably accommodated Collins’ disability. In addition, defense counsel argued that although the FedEx airplanes serviced at the Los Angeles International Airport hangar were older than others in its fleet, all of FedEx’s aircraft were flightworthy., Gruzalski, Langevin and Collins sought recovery of $109 million in total damages for their past and future lost wages, emotional pain and suffering, and punitive damages against FedEx.