Bloggers David and Ina Steiner have reached a $55.7 million settlement to conclude a 2021 federal lawsuit filed in Boston against eBay and several of the company's former executives. The legal action followed a disturbing 2019 cyberstalking campaign in which the couple was targeted with harassment that included the delivery of cockroaches, live fly larvae, and a bloody Halloween pig mask. Additionally, some of the perpetrators traveled from California to Natick, Massachusetts, to conduct surveillance on the couple and attempt to attach a GPS tracking device to their vehicle.
As part of the resolution, eBay has agreed to pay $46.15 million directly to the Steiners, provide $6 million in charitable contributions to non-profit organizations, and issue a strongly-worded statement addressing the conduct of three of its top former executives. In a statement, eBay described the treatment of the Steiners as “wrong, reprehensible and should never have happened,” adding that the agreement fulfills their commitment to compensate the couple and make things right. Christopher Murphy, an attorney for the Steiners, stated that the resolution delivers a clear message that corporations and their leadership will face significant consequences for such misconduct.
Former eBay CEO Devin Wenig, who stepped down in September 2019, was never charged in the criminal case. While his lawyers previously argued he had no knowledge of the harassment and was merely advocating for a public relations strategy, he will now pay the Steiners $2 million and donate $1 million to a charity protecting first amendment rights in Ina Steiner's name. Expressing his regret, Wenig said, “No one should ever have been subjected to what the Steiners endured in 2019, and I’m saddened by it, especially because it occurred during my time as CEO of eBay.”
Other former executives also faced financial penalties under the settlement, with former senior vice-president of global operations Wendy Jones and another executive named Wymer agreeing to pay $500,000 and $50,000, respectively. According to the plaintiffs' legal team, additional settlements were reached with all other former eBay employees named in the lawsuit. Previously, seven former eBay workers pleaded guilty to their roles in the scheme and received prison sentences of up to 57 months.
