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eBay agreed to pay nearly $50 million to couple sent cockroaches, bloody pig mask
New York Post • • business
Key Points:
- eBay Inc. agreed to pay nearly $50 million to David and Ina Steiner, who were harassed by former eBay employees through threats and disturbing anonymous deliveries, including live insects and a bloody pig Halloween mask.
- The settlement resolves over six years of legal proceedings and includes an additional $7 million in charitable donations supporting First Amendment rights, with no confidentiality clause allowing the Steiners to speak publicly about the case.
- The harassment campaign involved cyberstalking, death threats, in-person surveillance, and escalating intimidation tactics linked to the couple's reporting on eBay through their newsletter, EcommerceBytes.
- eBay acknowledged the wrongdoing of former employees and internal communication issues under previous leadership, stating the conduct was not reflective of the company's culture and highlighting subsequent leadership and policy changes.
- Former eBay executives Wenig, Jones, and Wymer contributed personally to the settlement, and several former employees pleaded guilty to related criminal charges, with eBay also paying a $3 million criminal penalty under a deferred prosecution agreement.
