Two New Lawsuits Filed Against SpaceX by Former Employees Alleging Safety‐Related Retaliation and Wrongful Termination

The supervisor’s attempts to improve workplace safety through enhanced training and certifications were met with resistance. According to the complaint, management told him “there is no time for that and the company would not spend money on it.”

Plumber’s Medical Needs Met with Termination

The second lawsuit comes from David Lavalle, a 60-year-old plumber who joined SpaceX in 2014. Lavalle’s complaint tells a different but equally concerning story about alleged discrimination and retaliation, this time involving workplace injuries and medical accommodations.

According to the lawsuit, Lavalle sustained multiple work-related injuries during his decade-long tenure, including a fractured foot, severe neck pain, back and shoulder injuries, and wrist pain. While he filed workers’ compensation claims for some injuries, he allegedly refrained from filing for others due to fear of retaliation from the company.

The situation came to a head when Lavalle requested medical leave for gout-induced knee pain. Just nine days after making this request, he was terminated, according to the complaint. Lavalle alleges this termination was part of a broader pattern of age discrimination, claiming he was caught up in a wave of firings targeting older staff members.