eBay and its former CEO Jamie Wenig have agreed to pay a $56m settlement to a couple, David and Ina Steiner, after they were subjected to a campaign of harassment in 2019 for criticizing the company online. The couple's website, EcommerceBytes, had previously criticized eBay, leading some executives to retaliate with threatening actions, including sending them a costume mask covered in pigs blood and a book about surviving the death of a spouse. Seven former eBay executives pleaded guilty to various charges related to the harassment between 2022 and 2024. Wenig is personally contributing $1m to the settlement, which will go towards an unnamed charity dedicated to protecting First Amendment rights.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-21,
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Story summary
eBay has agreed to pay $56m (£42m) to David and Ina Steiner, a couple who were subjected to harassment by the company's former executives after they criticized eBay online through their website and newsletter, EcommerceBytes. The couple claimed that from 2019, they received threatening actions, including a costume mask covered in pigs blood and a book on surviving the death of a spouse, which several seven former executives ultimately pleaded guilty to. These actions were part of an attempt by eBay's then-CEO and other executives to intimidate the Steiners into stopping their online criticism. The settlement is seen as eBay's effort to "make things right" after admitting to using an "unprofessional tone in internal communications".
Written for “eBay Settles Harassment Lawsuit” on 2026-08-31,
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eBay and some former executives have agreed to pay a couple $56m (£42m) after a campaign of harassment in retaliation for their online criticism of the firm.
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eBay → agree → firm
In a statement on Tuesday, David and Ina Steiner, said they and eBay had reached a settlement stemming from the 2019 harassment they faced from several of the company's executives, as well as internal communications by eBay's then chief executive.
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they → say → executive
The Steiners ran a website and newsletter EcommerceBytes that was at times critical of eBay.
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that → run → eBay
A group of now former company executives ultimately pleaded guilty to sending the couple a costume mask covered in pigs blood, a book on surviving the death of a spouse, among other threatening actions.
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group → plead → actions
Other actions, external perpetrated against the Steiners included eBay executives sending them a funeral wreath and harassing messages on Twitter (the social media platform now known as X).
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executives → perpetrate → X
Some even paid visits to the couple's Massachusetts home in a bid to install a tracking device on their car.
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Some → pay → car
Seven former eBay executives pleaded guilty, external to the criminal charges between 2022 and 2024, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
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executives → plead → Justice
An FBI agent involved in the investigation said in 2024 that the former executives' actions were an "unprecedented, relentless, and over-the-top harassment campaign".
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actions → say → top
eBay was also criminally charged and entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the DOJ and agreed to pay a fine of $3m.
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eBay → charge → 3
While eBay is paying the couple the bulk of the settlement, including $6m to "various non-profit organizations", Wenig is personally paying $1m toward the settlement.
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Wenig → pay → settlement
Wenig left eBay in 2019.
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Wenig → leave → 2019
The same year, he had sent eBay's top communications executive a text message regarding Ina Steiner which said: "Take her down."
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which → send → her
A representative of Wenig on Tuesday said earlier proceedings in the Steiners' lawsuit explained that his text was referring to a public relations strategy to combat purported errors in Ina Steiner's writing.
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text → say → writing
Wenig added: "No one should ever have been subjected to what the Steiners endured in 2019, and I'm saddened by it, especially because it occurred during my time as CEO of eBay.
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it → add → eBay
The harassment was deliberately done in secret."
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harassment → do → ?
His contribution is set to go to an unnamed charity that is "dedicated to protecting First Amendment rights" and will be gifted in the name of Ina Steiner, according to the couple's lawyers.
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that → set → lawyers
The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects the right to freedom of speech.
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Amendment → protect → speech
Christopher Murphy of Scalli Murphy Law PC, which represented the Steiners in the case, said on Tuesday: "We believe this resolution sends a clear message that corporations and their executives cannot engage in this type of misconduct without facing significant consequences."
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corporations → represent → consequences
eBay said: "What the Steiners were subjected to by former eBay employees in 2019 was wrong, reprehensible and should never have happened."
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subjected → say → 2019
The company condemned the former employees who ended up pleading guilty to criminal charges that led to the civil lawsuit, and admitted to an "unprofessional tone in internal communications" by Wenig and other former executives.
"This agreement is consistent with our commitment to fairly compensate the Steiners and fulfills our efforts to make things right," eBay said on Tuesday.
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eBay → condemn → Tuesday
