EBay, former executives agree $55.7 million settlement in Steiners stalking case

EBay and three former senior executives agreed to a $55.7 million settlement with Massachusetts couple David and Ina Steiner, resolving a 2021 Boston federal lawsuit over a stalking and harassment campaign linked to the couple’s EcommerceBytes newsletter. Under the deal, the Steiners will receive $48.7 million in compensation, including $46.15 million from eBay, $2 million from former CEO Devin Wenig, $500,000 from former executive Wendy Jones and $50,000 from former executive Steve Wymer, while eBay and Wenig will fund an additional $7 million in charitable donations, including support for First Amendment rights. The agreement follows an earlier tentative settlement reached in February that was not finalized and later led the Steiners to ask a judge to reopen the case in June. It also requires eBay to issue a public statement addressing the conduct of former executives and contains no confidentiality provision, allowing the Steiners to speak publicly about the case. EBay reiterated that the 2019 conduct by former employees was “wrong, reprehensible and should never have happened” and said it had since changed leadership and strengthened policies, procedures and ethics training. Federal prosecutors charged seven former eBay employees in 2020, alleging they targeted the Steiners with cyberstalking, threats, surveillance and anonymous deliveries including live cockroaches and spiders, a funeral wreath and a bloody pig mask after becoming angered by the newsletter’s coverage. Most pleaded guilty and were sentenced to prison terms or home confinement. EBay separately agreed in 2024 to pay a $3 million criminal penalty under a deferred prosecution agreement.