eBay and three of its former top executives have agreed to a $55.7 million settlement to resolve a lawsuit brought by a Massachusetts couple, David and Ina Steiner. The couple had been subjected to a stalking and harassment campaign by several eBay employees in retaliation for their critical coverage of the company in a newsletter.
The settlement, announced by the Steiners on Monday, brings an end to a case filed in 2021. The campaign against the couple involved sending them items such as cockroaches, fly larvae, and a bloody Halloween pig mask, and also included attempts to install a GPS tracking device on their car.
As part of the agreement, eBay will pay $46.15 million directly to the Steiners and fund $6 million in charitable contributions to non-profit organisations. The company will also issue a “strongly-worded” statement regarding the conduct of its three former top executives. Former eBay CEO Devin Wenig will pay the Steiners $2 million and make a $1 million donation to a charity focused on protecting first amendment rights. Wendy Jones and Steve Wymer, also former executives, will pay the couple $500,000 and $50,000 respectively.
Seven former eBay workers previously pleaded guilty and received prison sentences for their involvement in the scheme. eBay itself was criminally charged and agreed to pay a $3 million fine in 2024.