eBay has recently settled a civil lawsuit with David and Ina Steiner, the Massachusetts couple targeted in a harassment campaign by former eBay employees. The settlement resolves a lawsuit filed by the Steiners in 2021, which had sought nearly $500 million in damages. The terms of this specific settlement have not been disclosed, with U.S. District Judge Patti Saris dismissing the case after both parties informed the court they reached an agreement.
The harassment campaign, described as "bizarre and premeditated," involved former eBay staff sending the couple disturbing items such as live spiders, cockroaches, a bloody pig mask, and a funeral wreath. Employees also reportedly tailed the Steiners in their hometown and issued threats on social media. This campaign began in 2019 after Ina Steiner published an article about a lawsuit initiated by eBay against Amazon, which reportedly angered then-eBay CEO Devin Wenig.
This civil settlement follows a separate agreement in 2024 where eBay Inc. agreed to pay a $3 million criminal penalty under a deferred prosecution agreement with federal authorities regarding the case. Seven former eBay employees have pleaded guilty to criminal charges related to the harassment, including James Baugh, former senior director of safety and security, who was sentenced to nearly five years in prison, and David Harville, who received a two-year sentence. The $3 million criminal penalty was the maximum possible fine under the charges for stalking, witness tampering, and obstruction of justice.
