The underlying dispute began with United’s termination decision effective February 26, 2021 and written on March 3, 2021. The letter states that United had scheduled an investigatory meeting for February 8, 2021, rescheduled it for February 15, 2021, and was informed that FA Blockhus would be unavailable until at least April 5, 2021. The letter also gave a 30-day Step One appeal period under JCBA Section 23.A.9. Federal litigation then began with the filing of Blockhus v. United Airlines, Inc., No. 22-cv-03867, on July 26, 2022. The district court granted summary judgment to United on December 19, 2023, the Seventh Circuit decided the appeal on September 19, 2024, and certiorari proceedings were docketed in the Supreme Court on April 7, 2025.