eBay reaches $56M settlement with e-commerce newsletter writers it terrorized in 2019
News Source
β’Tue, 28 Jul 2026 18:35:29 +0000
π° What Happened
eBay and three former executives have agreed to pay $56 million to settle a lawsuit from Ina and David Steiner, a married couple who ran the EcommerceBytes newsletter. The couple had been targeted by eBay executives in 2019 after occasionally criticizing the company. The harassment campaign included sending live spiders, cockroaches, a bloody pig mask, a funeral wreath, and pornographic magazines to the couple's home.
The settlement includes $46.15 million from eBay itself, $2 million from former CEO Devin Wenig, $500,000 from former executive Wendy Jones, and $50,000 from former executive Steve Wymer. Additional funds go to various non-profits. Seven former eBay employees were criminally charged and pleaded guilty in 2022 for their roles in the campaign.
π The Backstory
The Steiners ran EcommerceBytes, a newsletter that covered the e-commerce industry, including eBay. Their critical coverage angered high-level eBay executives, who devised a plan to silence them. The plot included using fake social media accounts to harass the couple, sending threatening anonymous packages, and even planning to put a GPS tracker on their car. One executive suggested sending a 'Samoan gang' to their home.
The case became one of the most bizarre corporate harassment scandals in history. The criminal prosecutions of seven former eBay employees in 2022 sent a strong message about corporate accountability. The civil settlement in 2026 finally closes the legal chapter on this case, with the Steiners receiving significant compensation for the trauma they endured.
π― Why It Matters
This case shows how far powerful companies can go to silence critics. It's a warning about corporate misconduct and a reminder that even ordinary people can hold large corporations accountable when they are wronged.
eBay and three former executives have agreed to pay $56 million to settle a lawsuit from Ina and David Steiner, a married couple who ran the EcommerceBytes newsletter. The couple had been targeted by eBay executives in 2019 after occasionally criticizing the company. The harassment campaign included sending live spiders, cockroaches, a bloody pig mask, a funeral wreath, and pornographic magazines to the couple's home.
The settlement includes $46.15 million from eBay itself, $2 million from former CEO Devin Wenig, $500,000 from former executive Wendy Jones, and $50,000 from former executive Steve Wymer. Additional funds go to various non-profits. Seven former eBay employees were criminally charged and pleaded guilty in 2022 for their roles in the campaign.
The Steiners ran EcommerceBytes, a newsletter that covered the e-commerce industry, including eBay. Their critical coverage angered high-level eBay executives, who devised a plan to silence them. The plot included using fake social media accounts to harass the couple, sending threatening anonymous packages, and even planning to put a GPS tracker on their car. One executive suggested sending a 'Samoan gang' to their home.
The case became one of the most bizarre corporate harassment scandals in history. The criminal prosecutions of seven former eBay employees in 2022 sent a strong message about corporate accountability. The civil settlement in 2026 finally closes the legal chapter on this case, with the Steiners receiving significant compensation for the trauma they endured.
This case shows how far powerful companies can go to silence critics. It's a warning about corporate misconduct and a reminder that even ordinary people can hold large corporations accountable when they are wronged.