Former SpaceX staff members file lawsuit alleging unjust termination

In a series of lawsuits filed by former employees Robert Markert and David Lavalle, safety concerns and potential instances of wrongful termination at SpaceX have come to light. The lawsuits, initially filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, were later moved to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

Robert Markert, a former 13-year supervisor at SpaceX, alleges that he was terminated in April after warning SpaceX leaders about a potentially dangerous aspect of the rocket fairing recovery process. His concerns, he claims, were disregarded due to cost-effectiveness. Markert did not specify his work location at SpaceX, though his lawsuit references ship technicians.

Meanwhile, David Lavalle, a former plumber at SpaceX, alleges that he was fired after the company failed to accommodate multiple work-related injuries. Lavalle, who joined SpaceX in 2014 and is 60 years old, claims his termination was part of a pattern of firings targeting older staff, allegedly led by senior manager Scott Hiler.

The west coast rocket fairing recovery operations of SpaceX have the highest injury rates across all SpaceX sites, with a rate of 7.6 per 100 workers. This is significantly higher than the industry average, and the injury rates at SpaceX's Starbase complex in Texas in 2024 exceeded those of its aerospace peers, recording an injury rate of 4.27 per 100 workers, approximately triple the aerospace manufacturing average of 1.6.

Technicians at SpaceX were allegedly required to work 15 to 20 days in a row, with the schedule taking priority over safety concerns raised by Markert. Injuries resulting from this demanding schedule in a high-stress environment were allegedly not reported by technicians due to fear of repercussions.

Markert's suggestions for prioritizing trainings and certifications were met with resistance, with the company claiming there was no time for such activities and unwillingness to spend money on them. Lavalle suffered from various injuries, including a fractured foot, severe neck pain, back and shoulder injuries, and wrist pain, but did not file for workers' compensation for all of them due to fear of retaliation.

Neither SpaceX, Robert Markert's lawyer, nor David Lavalle's lawyer responded to TechCrunch's request for comment. OSHA logs indicate that SpaceX's west coast rocket fairing recovery operations have the highest injury rates across all SpaceX sites.

SpaceX is currently progressing with its Starship ultra-heavy rocket program, Falcon 9, which has flown 87 times this year. The Starship rocket program is intended for NASA, commercial clients, and the Starlink satellite internet service.

These allegations, if proven true, could have significant implications for SpaceX and the aerospace industry as a whole. The company has not yet responded to the allegations, and the lawsuits are currently pending in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.