Former SpaceX employees Robert Markert and David Lavalle filed separate wrongful-termination lawsuits, now in federal court, alleging safety concerns were disregarded and injuries unaccommodated.
Robert Markert, a supervisor for 13 years, alleges he cautioned SpaceX leaders that a specific aspect of the rocket fairing recovery process could “easily cause serious injury or death,” but was ignored due to it being “the more economical solution.” He was terminated in April. Markert claims technicians were sometimes required to work 15 to 20 days in a row, being told “the schedule comes first” when he raised concerns. Injuries resulting from this schedule in a high-stress environment were allegedly not reported by technicians fearing repercussions. Markert also stated that his suggestions to prioritize trainings and certifications were met with responses that “there is no time for that and the company would not spend money on it.”
The second lawsuit, by plumber David Lavalle, alleges he was fired after SpaceX failed to accommodate multiple work-related injuries, including a fractured foot, severe neck pain, back and shoulder injuries, and wrist pain. Lavalle filed for workers’ compensation for some injuries but not all, citing fear of retaliation. He was terminated nine days after requesting medical leave for gout-induced knee pain. Lavalle, 60 years old, joined SpaceX in 2014. He claims his termination was part of firings targeting older staff, in part led by 28-year-old Scott Hiler, a senior manager hired late last year.
These lawsuits emerge as SpaceX progresses with its Starship ultra-heavy rocket program for NASA, commercial clients, and the Starlink satellite internet service. The company also operates the Falcon 9, which has flown 87 times this year.
A lawyer representing Markert declined comment; Lavalle’s attorney did not immediately respond to TechCrunch. SpaceX also did not respond to TechCrunch‘s request for comment.
Recent reporting by TechCrunch indicated that SpaceX’s worker injury rates in 2024 exceeded those of its aerospace peers. Data from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) showed SpaceX’s Starbase complex in Texas recorded an injury rate of 4.27 per 100 workers last year, roughly triple the aerospace manufacturing average of 1.6. Markert, a Los Angeles County resident, did not specify his work location at SpaceX, though his lawsuit references ship technicians. OSHA logs indicate SpaceX’s west coast rocket fairing recovery operations have the highest injury rates across all SpaceX sites, at 7.6 per 100 workers.
Both complaints were initially filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court before SpaceX removed them to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
