EBay and ex-executives to pay $55.7m to couple sent cockroaches in harassment campaign
News Source
β’Tue, 28 Jul 2026 18:55:17 GMT
π° What Happened
eBay and three former executives agreed to pay 5.7 million to settle a lawsuit from David and Ina Steiner, who ran the EcommerceBytes newsletter. The couple was targeted in 2019 after publishing critical coverage. The harassment included sending live cockroaches, fly larvae, a bloody pig mask, and other disturbing items.
Settlement terms: 6.15 million from eBay, million from former CEO Devin Wenig, 00,000 from former executive Wendy Jones, and 0,000 from former executive Steve Wymer. Seven former eBay employees pleaded guilty in 2022 for their roles.
π The Backstory
This is one of the most bizarre corporate harassment scandals in US history. The Steiners crime was simply covering the e-commerce industry critically. Executives devised a plot including fake social media accounts, threatening packages, and plans to GPS-track their car. One executive suggested sending a gang to their home.
The case is a cautionary tale about corporate culture. Criminal prosecutions sent a strong message, while the civil settlement provides financial compensation. It highlights the power imbalance between large corporations and individual journalists who cover them.
π― Why It Matters
This settlement shows that even the largest corporations can be held accountable for their misconduct. It's a warning to companies that targeting critics with harassment campaigns has serious legal and financial consequences.
eBay and three former executives agreed to pay 5.7 million to settle a lawsuit from David and Ina Steiner, who ran the EcommerceBytes newsletter. The couple was targeted in 2019 after publishing critical coverage. The harassment included sending live cockroaches, fly larvae, a bloody pig mask, and other disturbing items.
Settlement terms: 6.15 million from eBay, million from former CEO Devin Wenig, 00,000 from former executive Wendy Jones, and 0,000 from former executive Steve Wymer. Seven former eBay employees pleaded guilty in 2022 for their roles.
This is one of the most bizarre corporate harassment scandals in US history. The Steiners crime was simply covering the e-commerce industry critically. Executives devised a plot including fake social media accounts, threatening packages, and plans to GPS-track their car. One executive suggested sending a gang to their home.
The case is a cautionary tale about corporate culture. Criminal prosecutions sent a strong message, while the civil settlement provides financial compensation. It highlights the power imbalance between large corporations and individual journalists who cover them.
This settlement shows that even the largest corporations can be held accountable for their misconduct. It's a warning to companies that targeting critics with harassment campaigns has serious legal and financial consequences.