Billion-dollar company and online marketplace eBay has agreed to pay $56 million to bloggers who were sent insects, bloody pig masks, and other unsettling objects after criticizing the website.
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Several eBay employees allegedly stalked and harassed David and Ida Steiner after they critiqued the e-commerce site in a newsletter they publish.
The Massachusetts couple announced the massive $56 million settlement on Monday, ending a five-year trial. The couple initially filed a lawsuit against eBay in Boston federal court in 2021.
As part of the settlement, eBay agreed to pay $46.15 million to the couple. Another $6 ?million was donated to non-profit organizations. Plus, the company agreed to reprimand the three executives who allegedly ordered employees to harass the couple.
"We believe ?this resolution sends a clear message that corporations and their executives cannot engage in this type of misconduct without facing significant consequences," Christopher ?Murphy, the Steiners' attorney, said in a statement.
Couple Receives $56 Million in Massive eBay Settlement
eBay said in a statement that what happened to the Steiners was "wrong, reprehensible and should never have happened."
"We continue to extend our deepest apologies to the Steiners," the company said. "This agreement is consistent with our commitment to fairly compensate the Steiners. And fulfills our efforts to make ?things right."
According to court documents, the couple accused several eBay employees of cyberstalking them. Shockingly, they also alleged that eBay employees sent stomach-turning packages, including cockroaches, fly larvae, a funeral wreath and a bloody Halloween mask.
Prosecutors have ?said that the aim was to silence them after senior executives deemed that their newsletter, EcommerceBytes, hurt the brand.
Former eBay CEO Apologizes After Settlement
Former eBay CEO Devin Wenig will pay $1 million of the settlement. During the lawsuit, damning messages he sent to other executives surfaced. The former CEO was found telling another executive to "Take her down," referring to Ina Steiner.
As part of the ?settlement, the Steiners' attorneys said Wenig will pay them $2 million. He will also make a $1 million donation to a ?charity focused on ?protecting First Amendment rights.
"No one should ever have been subjected to what the Steiners endured in 2019," Wenig said in a statement on Tuesday. "I'm saddened by it. Especially because it occurred during my time as CEO of eBay. This behavior is ?antithetical to ?everything I stand for and believe in."
