eBay and three former top executives have agreed to pay $55.7 million to resolve a lawsuit filed by Ina and David Steiner who were targeted in a bizarre stalking and harassment campaign. The couple, who run the trade publication ECommerceBytes, started receiving online threats and upsetting deliveries to their home in 2019.
Key Takeaways
eBay and three former executives have agreed to pay $55.7 million to resolve a lawsuit by Ina and David Steiner who were targeted in a harassment campaign. The couple will receive $46.15 million from eBay, with additional payments from former executives. Seven ex-employees pleaded guilty to cyberstalking charges.
- eBay agrees to pay $46.15m to the Steiners
- Former CEO Devin Wenig pays $2m and donates $1m to charity
- Wendy Jones and Steve Wymer also contribute to the settlement
- Seven ex-employees pleaded guilty, with sentences up to 57 months
- eBay issues a strongly-worded statement condemning the conduct
⚖
▼Source Claims Check
2 Differences FoundAll 3 publishers report consistent facts across 3 key claims. 2 points of difference noted.
| Claim | Status | Reason | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ebay Payment To Steiners | 1 Difference | The Guardian and CNBC report eBay's specific payment of $46.15m; CBS News reports a total of $48.7m to the Steiners including additional payments. | ▼ |
| Former Ceo Payment To Steiners | 1 Difference | The Guardian and CNBC specify separate payments; CBS News includes Wenig's payment in total. | ▼ |
| Settlement Amount | Broad Agreement | $55.7m total settlement with eBay and former executives. | |
| Harassment Campaign Details | Broad Agreement | Couple received cockroaches, fly larvae, bloody pig mask, live spiders. | |
| Former Executives' Involvement | Broad Agreement | $500,000 from Wendy Jones, $50,000 from Steve Wymer. |
Ebay Payment To Steiners
▼The Guardian and CNBC report eBay's specific payment of $46.15m; CBS News reports a total of $48.7m to the Steiners including additional payments.
Former Ceo Payment To Steiners
▼The Guardian and CNBC specify separate payments; CBS News includes Wenig's payment in total.
Settlement Amount
Broad Agreement$55.7m total settlement with eBay and former executives.
Harassment Campaign Details
Broad AgreementCouple received cockroaches, fly larvae, bloody pig mask, live spiders.
Former Executives' Involvement
Broad Agreement$500,000 from Wendy Jones, $50,000 from Steve Wymer.
This analysis is AI-generated and may not perfectly represent each source's reporting. Always read the original articles for full context.
The settlement includes $46.15 million from eBay, $6 million for charitable contributions, and a strongly-worded statement about the conduct of three former executives. Former CEO Devin Wenig will pay $2 million and make a $1 million donation to a charity focused on protecting First Amendment rights in Ina Steiner's name.
The harassment campaign involved sending cockroaches, fly larvae, a bloody Halloween pig mask, live spiders, and other disturbing items. Seven former eBay employees pleaded guilty and received sentences of up to 57 months for their roles in the scheme. Prosecutors said the aim was to silence the Steiners after senior executives deemed their newsletter critical of the company.
The settlement also includes payments from Wendy Jones, who previously served as senior vice-president of global operations, and Steve Wymer, former chief communications officer. eBay has issued a statement condemning the conduct and extending apologies to the Steiners. The case was resolved in Boston federal court after being filed in 2021.
How this summary was created
This summary synthesizes reporting from 3 independent publishers using AI. All sources are cited and linked below. NewsBalance is a news aggregator and media literacy tool, not a news publisher. AI-generated content may contain errors or inaccuracies — always verify important information with the original sources.