Ebay and ex-executives to pay $55.7m to couple sent cockroaches in harassment campaign
Summary
Ebay and three former top executives agreed to pay $55.7 million to a Massachusetts couple who were harassed by several former eBay employees. The harassment included sending cockroaches and trying to track the couple’s car, which was done in retaliation for the couple’s critical newsletter about eBay.Key Facts
- David and Ina Steiner filed a lawsuit in 2021 after being targeted in a stalking and harassment campaign.
- Ebay agreed to pay the couple $46.15 million and donate $6 million to charities as part of the settlement.
- Seven former eBay employees pleaded guilty and were sentenced to prison for their roles in the harassment.
- The harassment involved sending cockroaches, fly larvae, a bloody pig mask, and attempts to install a GPS tracker on the couple’s car.
- The campaign was linked to a company effort to silence the couple’s newsletter, EcommerceBytes, which was critical of eBay.
- Devin Wenig, former eBay CEO, was never charged but agreed to pay $2 million to the couple and donate $1 million to a free speech charity.
- Ebay publicly apologized and called the events “wrong” and “reprehensible.”
- Additional settlements were reached with other former eBay employees involved in the lawsuit.
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