Corporate Harassment Accountability
eBay and Former Executives Pay $55.7 Million to Couple in Harassment Suit
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Key Points
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Wymer and Wendy Jones contributed specific settlement amounts: former chief communications officer Steve Wymer agreed to pay $50,000 and former chief of global operations Wendy Jones $500,000, adding to the payout to the Steiners.
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A rental van that followed David Steiner was traced back to an eBay employee, providing a concrete link between the harassment campaign and company personnel involved.
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The intimidation included disturbing live deliveries such as cockroaches and spiders, and a bloody pig Halloween mask, underscoring the severity of the harassment campaign.
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In addition to the physical deliveries, perpetrators sent pornographic magazines addressed to David Steiner to neighbors and listed the Steiners’ home on Craigslist as a nightly destination for 'singles, couples and swingers.'
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The criminal penalties totaled $3 million for seven individuals and were imposed under a deferred prosecution agreement, separate from the civil settlement between the Steiners and eBay.
eBay and three former top executives have agreed to pay $55.7 million to settle a harassment and stalking lawsuit filed by Massachusetts journalists Ina and David Steiner, according to Bloomberg Law. The Steiners, who run the e-commerce news site EcommerceBytes from their Natick home, were targeted in a deeply disturbing campaign that included live insects, a bloody pig mask, and a funeral wreath delivered to their door.
The Steiners described the ordeal — which stretched over seven years — as 'corporate terrorism.' The settlement closes a chapter that already produced criminal convictions for seven former eBay employees, four of whom served prison time, according to CNBC.
How $55.7 Million Gets Split Among Parties
The Steiners themselves will receive about $46.15 million, according to Bloomberg Law. Former eBay CEO Devin Wenig will pay $2 million. Former chief of global operations Wendy Jones will pay $500,000. Former chief communications officer Steve Wymer will pay $50,000. eBay will separately donate $6 million to charities.
Wenig will also earmark $1 million to a First Amendment-focused charity in Ina Steiner's name, according to CNBC. Ina Steiner is a journalist who covered eBay closely. The First Amendment protects freedom of the press. Wenig's donation is seen as an acknowledgment of that principle.
Pig Masks, Live Insects, and a Rental Van Outside Their Home
The harassment campaign was strikingly personal and bizarre. Former eBay employees sent the Steiners a bloody pig Halloween mask, live cockroaches, live spiders, and a funeral wreath. They also mailed pornographic magazines to David Steiner's neighbors and posted the couple's home address on Craigslist as a nightly spot for 'singles, couples and swingers,' according to CNBC.
The physical intimidation went further. A rental van was spotted following David Steiner. Investigators traced the van back to an eBay employee, giving prosecutors a direct link between the company and the stalking campaign, according to Patch.
'Take Her Down': How Wenig's Text Sparked a Federal Case
Federal prosecutors charged seven former eBay employees in 2020 with conspiracy and cyberstalking. The charges stemmed from anger over the Steiners' coverage of eBay. Wenig had texted colleagues to 'take her down,' referring to Ina Steiner, according to Bloomberg Law. That message became central to the federal investigation.
Wenig and other senior executives were not charged criminally. The seven employees faced criminal penalties totaling $3 million under a deferred prosecution agreement — a deal separate from the civil settlement. Four of the seven served actual prison time, according to CNBC.
Steiners Call Settlement a Win for Journalists Everywhere
The Steiners said the settlement is about more than money. They called the campaign 'corporate terrorism' and said they hope it protects other journalists and online publishers from similar abuse, according to Patch. Ina Steiner said the outcome was a step toward real accountability for powerful companies.
The case drew wide attention because it showed how a major corporation's employees used company resources to silence critics. EcommerceBytes had published critical coverage of eBay's policies. The $55.7 million settlement is one of the largest ever tied to a corporate stalking and harassment campaign, according to Bloomberg Law.
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