eBay and several former executives have agreed to pay $55.7m to settle a civil lawsuit brought by Ina and David Steiner over a 2019 harassment campaign. The Steiners, operators of the EcommerceBytes news site, were targeted by former eBay employees in what their lawyers described as a terror campaign intended to stop their reporting. Under the settlement, the Steiners will receive $48.7m in total compensation, with eBay paying $46.15m, former chief executive Devin Wenig paying $2m, former executive Wendy Jones paying $500,000, and former executive Steve Wymer paying $50,000. eBay has also agreed to provide $6m in charitable donations to non-profit groups, and Wenig will make a separate $1m donation to an organisation that supports First Amendment rights in Ina Steiner's name. The agreement does not include a confidentiality clause, allowing the Steiners to speak publicly about the case.
eBay InceBay and former executives settle $55.7m lawsuit over cyberstalking campaign, indicating legal and reputational damage.