FedEx Ground has sued one of its largest delivery contractors, claiming he is spreading false and misleading information about the company and its relationships with contractors to boost the fortunes of his web of businesses.
In a filing early Friday, the U.S. ground-delivery unit of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) accused Spencer Patton of “creating a fictionalized crisis” between FedEx Ground and its approximately 6,000 contractors so he could drive contractor business to his companies. According to the suit, Patton has exaggerated financial hardships facing FedEx Ground contractors so they will use one of his businesses, Route Consultant, to renegotiate their contracts with the unit.
