Former eBay executives settle harassment lawsuit for $56 million

Published Jul 30, 04:00 PM UTC

Former eBay executives have agreed to pay nearly $56 million to settle a civil lawsuit brought by David and Ina Steiner, a Massachusetts couple who publish the e-commerce trade publication EcommerceBytes. The lawsuit alleged that in 2019, eBay's leadership orchestrated a coordinated harassment campaign to intimidate, threaten, and silence the Steiners after their reporting drew criticism from the company. The campaign allegedly included sending live spiders, cockroaches, a bloody pig mask, a funeral wreath, and a book about grieving a spouse's death to the couple's home. Other alleged acts included stalking, attempting to place a tracking device on their vehicle, posting their address online, and creating fake invitations to sex parties. Under the settlement, eBay will pay $46.15 million, former CEO Devin Wenig will pay $2 million, and two other ex-executives will pay $550,000. An additional $7 million will go to charitable donations. The U.S. Department of Justice previously indicted six former eBay employees and a contractor, and eBay paid a $3 million criminal fine.