A Massachusetts couple, David and Ina Steiner, were compensated around £37.5 million by eBay following allegations of intimidation and harassment by former employees. The settlement, which was near trial stage in February, also includes an additional £5.27 million designated for charitable donations.
Christopher Murphy, the couple’s lawyer, emphasized that the resolution serves as a warning against attempts by large corporations to suppress free speech and press freedom. He highlighted that the Steiners were adamant about being able to openly discuss the incidents in the settlement, putting an end to over six years of legal actions related to the harassment case.
The Steiner’s lawsuit, filed in 2021 in Boston, accused eBay of participating in a conspiracy to intimidate and silence them in response to their reporting on the e-commerce industry. The couple, known for their e-commerce newsletter, detailed incidents of cyberstalking, death threats, and surveillance by former eBay staff members.
As part of the settlement, eBay is required to release a public statement addressing the behavior of former executives implicated in the case. The company has expressed regret over the incident, acknowledging the inappropriate actions of its former employees. eBay also acknowledged lapses in internal communication by previous top executives and assured that changes have been made to strengthen company policies and ethics training.
In a separate legal development, seven ex-eBay employees faced charges in 2020 for orchestrating a harassment campaign against the Steiners due to dissatisfaction with the couple’s newsletter coverage. Most defendants pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy and cyberstalking, receiving sentences ranging from prison terms to home confinement.
Under a deferred prosecution agreement with federal authorities, eBay Inc. agreed to pay a $3 million criminal penalty in 2024. The harassment tactics included sending disturbing items to the couple’s residence anonymously, such as live insects, a funeral wreath, and a bloody Halloween mask. Additionally, the employees planned to plant a GPS device on the couple’s vehicle by breaking into their garage.
Christopher Murphy emphasized the significance of the settlement, highlighting the absence of a confidentiality agreement that often conceals misconduct by offering compensation to victims. He stressed that the resolution sends a strong message that corporations and their executives will face severe consequences for engaging in such misconduct.
