eBay agrees to $48.7 million settlement over harassment of ecommerce newsletter founders
eBay will pay nearly $50 million to David and Ina Steiner, founders of the EcommerceBytes newsletter, to resolve claims that former employees harassed them in an effort to silence their reporting.
eBay Inc. announced a settlement that will pay $48.7 million to David and Ina Steiner, the founders of the EcommerceBytes newsletter that covers the e-commerce sector. The agreement also includes $7 million in charitable contributions, some earmarked for groups that defend First Amendment rights.
The Steiners filed a lawsuit in 2021 alleging that former eBay employees carried out a coordinated campaign of cyberstalking, death threats, in-person surveillance and other intimidation tactics to suppress their reporting on the company. Federal prosecutors later charged seven ex-employees, most of whom pleaded guilty to conspiracy and cyberstalking offenses.
Under the settlement, eBay will provide $46.15 million, while former chief executive Devin Wenig, former senior vice president Wendy Jones and former chief communications officer Steve Wymer will pay $2 million, $500,000 and $50,000 respectively. The company will also issue a public statement acknowledging the misconduct and noting changes to its leadership, policies and ethics training.
"This was not only an attack and campaign of harassment against two people; it was also an attack on free speech and freedom of the press," said attorney Christopher Murphy of Scalli Murphy Law.
"We believe this resolution sends a clear message that corporations and their executives cannot engage in this type of misconduct without facing significant consequences," Murphy added.
The settlement contains no confidentiality clause, allowing the Steiners to speak publicly about the case. eBay reiterated its apology, describing the actions of the former employees as unacceptable and stating that the behavior does not reflect the company's culture.