eBay Inc. has agreed to pay almost $50 million to a Massachusetts couple who were targeted by former employees with threats and bizarre anonymous deliveries, including live insects and a bloody pig Halloween mask.

Settlement Details

The settlement, which includes an additional $7 million in charitable donations to organizations supporting First Amendment rights, resolves more than six years of criminal and civil proceedings stemming from the harassment campaign. The couple, David and Ina Steiner, founders of EcommerceBytes, a newsletter covering the e-commerce industry, were subjected to cyberstalking, death threats, and in-person surveillance by former eBay workers.

The settlement contains no confidentiality provision, allowing the Steiners to discuss the case publicly. Attorney Christopher Murphy said the resolution sends “a warning that attempts by big business to suppress speech and the press will not be tolerated.”

eBay reiterated its apology, saying, “What the Steiners were subjected to by former eBay employees in 2019 was wrong, reprehensible and should never have happened.” The company also acknowledged “the unprofessional tone in internal communications” by former CEO Devin Wenig, former Chief Communications Officer Steve Wymer, and former Senior Vice President Wendy Jones.

Consequences for Former Employees

In 2020, federal prosecutors charged seven former eBay employees, alleging they carried out a coordinated harassment campaign against the couple. Most of the defendants pleaded guilty to charges including conspiracy and cyberstalking and were later sentenced to prison terms or home confinement.

Under the settlement, the Steiners will receive $48.7 million in compensation, including $46.15 million from eBay, $2 million from former CEO Wenig, $500,000 from former executive Jones, and $50,000 from former executive Wymer.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.