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eBay Inc. and Former Executives Settle for $55.7 Million with David and Ina Steiner Over Harassment Campaign

eBay Inc. and three former top executives have reached a settlement totaling $55.7 million to resolve a lawsuit filed by David and Ina Steiner. The Massachusetts couple, who founded the EcommerceBytes newsletter, were subjected to a coordinated harassment campaign by former eBay employees in 2019 after the company's leadership became critical of their reporting. The campaign included cyberstalking, death threats, and bizarre anonymous deliveries such as live cockroaches, spiders, and a bloody pig Halloween mask. Under the terms of the agreement, eBay Inc. will pay $46.15 million to the Steiners, while former CEO Devin Wenig, former Chief Communications Officer Steve Wymer, and former Senior Vice President Wendy Jones will provide personal payments of $2 million, $50,000, and $500,000 respectively. Additionally, the company will fund $6 million in charitable donations, including $1 million from Devin Wenig to a charity dedicated to protecting First Amendment rights in the name of Ina Steiner. The settlement includes no confidentiality provision, allowing the Steiners to speak openly about the corporate misconduct. eBay Inc. apologized for the unprofessional tone of the former executives and stated that the conduct was not representative of the company's culture.

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