eBay Pays $56M Settlement in Harassment Campaign Against EcommerceBytes Couple

eBay's $56 Million Settlement: A Landmark Harassment Case

In one of the most disturbing episodes in e-commerce history, eBay and several former executives have agreed to pay $56 million to a newsletter-writing couple who were subjected to a horrific targeted harassment campaign in 2019. The settlement resolves a 2021 civil case brought by Ina and David Steiner, co-authors of the popular newsletter EcommerceBytes.

The Harassment Campaign Against the Steiners

The Steiners had occasionally criticized eBay in their newsletter, drawing the ire of high-level executives. In 2019, a plot was concocted to intimidate the couple into halting negative coverage. Tactics included:

• Sock puppet social media accounts used to harass the couple
• Anonymous threatening letters and bizarre mail items — including live spiders and cockroaches, pornographic magazines, a bloody pig mask, a funereal wreath, and a book about surviving the death of a spouse
• Unsuccessful plans to affix a GPS tracking device to their car
• An internally discussed (but never executed) plan to send a “Samoan gang” to the Steiners’ home

Details of the Harassment

According to previously released court documents, former eBay employees went to extraordinary lengths to terrorize the couple. The campaign involved individuals across multiple departments, from security to communications.

Financial Breakdown of the eBay Settlement

Payments to the Steiner Couple

The law office representing the Steiners confirmed the following payments:

• $46.15 million from eBay itself
• $2 million from former eBay CEO Devin Wenig
• $500,000 from former eBay executive Wendy Jones
• $50,000 from former eBay executive Steve Wymer

Additional funds have been directed to various non-profits as part of the agreement.

Criminal Charges and Guilty Pleas

In 2022, seven former eBay employees were criminally charged and pled guilty in relation to the plot. Notable individuals include:

• James Baugh — former security chief, sentenced to nearly five years in prison
• David Harville, Brian Gilbert, Stephanie Popp, Stephanie Stockwell, Philip Cooke, and former eBay contractor Veronica Zea

eBay's Corporate Response and Commitment to Accountability

Official Statement from eBay

In a statement, eBay disavowed the former employees’ behavior, calling it “wrong, reprehensible and should never have happened.” The company added: “We condemn, in the strongest terms possible, the employees who perpetrated and pled guilty to criminal charges for the misconduct against Ina and David Steiner. We continue to extend our deepest apologies to the Steiners. This agreement is consistent with our commitment to fairly compensate the Steiners and fulfills our efforts to make things right.”

Attorneys Weigh In

Christopher Murphy, one of the Steiners’ attorneys, stated: “This case was always about more than obtaining financial recovery. From the beginning, our clients wanted to uncover the truth, protect journalists and publishers, hold those responsible accountable, deter future corporate misconduct, and help ensure others would never have to endure what they experienced.”

Implications for E-Commerce and Journalist Protection

This case serves as a stark warning about corporate overreach and the importance of protecting independent journalists. The harassment campaign against the Steiners highlights risks faced by critical voices in the e-commerce space. The settlement and criminal convictions underscore that such behavior will not be tolerated by the justice system, and companies must foster cultures of accountability.