Longtime supervisor Robert Markert warned SpaceX leaders that a specific part of the rocket fairing recovery process could “easily cause serious injury or death.” He claims he was ignored because “it was the more economical solution,” according to a recently filed lawsuit. A few months later, he was terminated.
Markert is one of two former SpaceX employees who have filed separate wrongful-termination lawsuits, both moved to federal court earlier this month. The lawsuits allege that speed and cost-cutting took priority over safety and other critical considerations.
These legal actions come as SpaceX accelerates efforts to prepare its Starship ultra-heavy rocket for missions with NASA, commercial clients, and its Starlink satellite internet service. In addition to Starship, SpaceX operates the Falcon 9, the most frequently launched rocket in history, which has flown 87 times this year alone.
Markert worked at SpaceX for 13 years before his termination in April. He claims that technicians were often required to work 15 to 20 consecutive days, and when he raised concerns, supervisors told him “the schedule comes first.” The grueling workload, combined with a high-pressure environment, allegedly led to injuries that technicians were too afraid to report.
When Markert suggested prioritizing training and certifications, he was reportedly told “there is no time for that and the company would not spend money on it,” according to the complaint.
The second lawsuit, filed by former SpaceX plumber David Lavalle, alleges he was fired after the company failed to accommodate multiple work-related injuries, including a fractured foot, severe neck pain, and back, shoulder, and wrist injuries. Lavalle filed for worker’s compensation for some injuries but avoided reporting others due to fear of retaliation. Nine days after requesting medical leave for gout-related knee pain, he was terminated.
Lavalle, 60, joined SpaceX in 2014. He claims his firing was part of a broader pattern of dismissing older employees, allegedly influenced by 28-year-old Scott Hiler, a senior manager hired late last year.
Recent data from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration revealed that SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Texas had an injury rate of 4.27 per 100 workers in 2024—nearly triple the aerospace industry average of 1.6. SpaceX’s west coast rocket fairing recovery operations recorded an even higher injury rate of 7.6 per 100 workers.
Both lawsuits were initially filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court before being transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
A lawyer representing Markert declined to comment, while Lavalle’s attorney did not immediately respond to requests. SpaceX also did not provide a statement.