eBay and several former executives have agreed to pay $56 million to Ina and David Steiner, a couple who ran the EcommerceBytes newsletter, after a 2019 harassment campaign orchestrated by eBay's former executives. The harassment included threatening letters, creepy mailed items like live spiders and a bloody pig mask, and plans for GPS tracking and intimidation. The settlement resolves a 2021 civil case, with eBay paying $46.15 million and former executives Devin Wenig, Wendy Jones, and Steve Wymer contributing additional amounts. Seven former employees were criminally charged and pled guilty, with the former security chief sentenced to nearly five years in prison. eBay condemned the actions as not representative of its culture and apologized to the Steiners, emphasizing accountability and deterrence of future misconduct.
