Folks, I almost spilled my coffee reading this one. EBay and three of its former top executives have agreed to pay a whopping $55.7 million to resolve a lawsuit by a Massachusetts couple, David and Ina Steiner, who were victims of a bizarre stalking and harassment campaign carried out by several eBay employees. I mean, who sends cockroaches, fly larvae, and a bloody Halloween pig mask to someone? Somewhere in Atlanta, a producer thought this sounded terrifying, and I’d have to agree. The Steiners, who publish a newsletter about e-commerce, were targeted because they were critical of eBay, and some senior executives didn’t take too kindly to that.
The whole ordeal started when then-CEO Devin Wenig texted the company’s chief communications officer, Steve Wymer, saying it was time to “take her down,” referring to Ina Steiner. Now, I’m no expert, but that doesn’t exactly sound like a public relations strategy to me. The campaign involved several eBay employees traveling from California to Massachusetts to surveil the Steiners and even try to install a GPS tracking device on their car. You can’t make this stuff up, right?
As part of the settlement, eBay will pay the couple $46.15 million, fund $6 million in charitable contributions, and issue a statement about the conduct of its former executives. The Steiners’ attorney, Christopher Murphy, said the resolution sends a clear message that corporations and their executives can’t engage in this type of misconduct without facing significant consequences. Bless their hearts, indeed.
The Steiners’ lawyers also announced that former CEO Devin Wenig will pay them $2 million and make a $1 million donation to a charity focused on protecting First Amendment rights in Ina Steiner’s name. Wenig claimed he had no knowledge or involvement in the harassment campaign, but I suppose that’s a story for another time.
In the end, seven former eBay workers pleaded guilty and received sentences of up to 57 months in prison for participating in the scheme. EBay itself was criminally charged and agreed to pay a $3 million fine in 2024. It’s a wild story, folks, and I’m just glad it’s finally coming to an end.
The settlement is a culmination of a long and arduous process for the Steiners, who have been through a nightmare. As I finish my coffee, I’m left thinking that this whole ordeal is just a reminder that, no matter how big or powerful you are, you can’t just harass and stalk people who criticize you. And that’s a lesson we can all learn from. So, the next time you’re thinking of sending someone a box of cockroaches, just remember: it’s not worth it, folks.
Armchair patriot. Believes in the free market, cold beer, and that there’s always a guy named George behind every CNN segment.
Former remote-throwing champion turned #1 couch commentator on liberal panic in the media. Born in Texas (or so his mug says), he earned a degree in Fake Newsology & Beer Philosophy from YouTube University.
