SpaceX Faces Two New Lawsuits Alleging Retaliation Over Safety Issues

Veteran supervisor Robert Markert expressed his worries to SpaceX leadership regarding a particular element of the rocket fairing recovery process that could “easily lead to serious injury or death.” He asserts that his concerns were overlooked in favor of a “more cost-effective solution,” as detailed in a recently filed lawsuit. Months later, he found himself unemployed.

Markert is one of two former SpaceX employees who have filed separate wrongful termination lawsuits, both of which have recently been moved to federal court. The two claims highlight similar allegations that emphasize how the focus on speed and cost took precedence over important factors, including safety.

These lawsuits arrive as SpaceX races to prepare its Starship ultra-heavy rocket for missions with NASA, commercial partners, and to bolster the company’s Starlink satellite internet service. Additionally, SpaceX operates the Falcon 9, the most frequently launched rocket globally, which has already recorded 87 flights this year.

After serving 13 years at SpaceX, Markert was let go in April. He contends that employees were often required to work 15 to 20 days in a row, and when he raised concerns about this to management, he was told “the schedule comes first.” This grueling routine in a high-pressure environment resulted in injuries that Markert claims ship technicians were hesitant to report.

When Markert suggested emphasizing training and certifications, he was informed “there is no time for that and the company won’t allocate funds for it,” according to the lawsuit.

The second lawsuit, filed by SpaceX plumber David Lavalle, alleges he was terminated after the company failed to address several work-related injuries, including a fractured foot, severe neck pain, and ailments affecting his back, shoulders, and wrists. Although Lavalle sought workers’ compensation for some injuries, he refrained from reporting others due to fear of retaliation, the complaint claims.

Nine days after requesting medical leave for knee pain linked to gout, Lavalle was terminated. Joining the company at age 60 in 2014, he claims in his lawsuit that he was part of a wave of layoffs targeting older employees, notably initiated by 28-year-old Scott Hiler, who was hired as a new senior manager late last year.

A lawyer representing Markert declined to offer comments, while Lavalle’s attorney did not respond promptly to TechCrunch’s inquiry. SpaceX also refrained from commenting to TechCrunch.

Recent reports from TechCrunch have revealed that SpaceX experienced higher worker injury rates compared to its competitors in 2024. Data from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration indicated that the Starbase complex in Texas had an injury rate of 4.27 per 100 workers last year, nearly triple the aerospace manufacturing average of 1.6.

Markert, a resident of Los Angeles County, does not specify his exact position at SpaceX in his lawsuit, although it notes he worked alongside ship technicians. OSHA records show that SpaceX’s west coast rocket fairing recovery operations reported the highest injury rates among all SpaceX locations, with an injury rate of 7.6 per 100 workers.

Both lawsuits were initially filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court before being transferred by SpaceX to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.