eBay and former executives agree to roughly $56 million settlement with Massachusetts couple in harassment case
How left and right are reading this
- Both agree
- Retaliation against critical coverage crossed a clear line from corporate misconduct into punishable intimidation, and the settlement closes a years-long case over that abuse.
- They split on
- Whether the story is about checking a powerful company’s abuse of critics, or about enforcing the basic right to speak and publish without corporate retaliation.
The Facts
- eBay and three former executives agreed to settle the Steiners' civil lawsuit for about $55.7 million to $56 million.
- The plaintiffs are David and Ina Steiner, a Massachusetts couple who run the EcommerceBytes newsletter and website covering e-commerce.
- The lawsuit stemmed from a 2019 campaign by former eBay employees to harass and intimidate the Steiners in retaliation for their coverage of eBay.
- Multiple former eBay employees were prosecuted or convicted in connection with the campaign before this civil settlement was reached.
- Reported acts in the harassment campaign included sending the Steiners items such as live insects, a funeral wreath and a pig mask covered in fake or pig blood.
- The settlement was announced publicly by the Steiners, and eBay acknowledged that a deal had been reached.
- According to the settlement terms reported by multiple outlets, $46.15 million will go to the Steiners directly, with additional millions allocated to charitable contributions and payments by former executives.
- The settlement resolves a long-running civil case filed in 2021, ending litigation that had continued for several years after the 2019 events.
Analytical frames for this storyTap to explore
Context
What was the underlying case about?
The case centered on a 2019 effort by former eBay employees to intimidate David and Ina Steiner, whose EcommerceBytes publication had at times criticized eBay. Reported actions included threatening messages and anonymous deliveries to their home and neighborhood BBC,CBS News,Reuters.
How is the settlement money being divided?
Multiple reports say the Steiners will receive $46.15 million directly, while additional funds will go to charitable contributions and payments by former executives as part of the overall roughly $55.7 million package NYT,Yahoo! Finance,Reuters.
Why does this settlement matter beyond this couple's case?
The dispute drew attention because it involved allegations that corporate personnel retaliated against journalists or critics over coverage of a major technology company. The public disclosure of the settlement terms also makes the outcome more transparent than many corporate settlements NYT,Hindustan Times,https://www.outlook….
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Wire services (13)
Independent coverage (50)
Hindustan TimesWho are David and Ina Steiner? Massachusetts couple to get $...
DT NewseBay to Pay $56 Million Over Harassment Campaign Against Cri...
Frankfurter AllgemeineEbay zahlt Bloggern nach Schikane 50 Millionen Dollar
YahooMassachusetts Couple Wins $48.7M After eBay Employees Sent T...
We Got This CoveredeBay to pay $56 million to couple it 'terrorized' by sending...
BildEbay zahlt Bloggern Millionen: Skandal enthüllt
International Business Times UKeBay to Pay $50M Settlement After Former Employees Sent Live...
The Daily BeasteBay Pays $56M to Couple Targeted in Cockroach Harassment Ca...
WickedLocalHow a Natick MA couple, terrorized by eBay execs, won nearly...
Anadolu AjansıeBay agrees to pay $55.7 million to US couple for harassment
https://www.outlookbusiness.com/eBay's $55.7 Mn Settlement: The Cyberstalking Case Involving...
NewsByteseBay to pay $56M to couple it harassed in 2019
Retail GazetteeBay agrees $55.7m harassment settlement after couple tormen...
Capital FM KenyaeBay agrees $56mn settlement with bloggers over harassment c...
cnbctv18.comCockroaches, funeral wreath and pig mask lead to $50 million...
Kronen ZeitungBlogger tyrannisiert: eBay zahlt 50 Mio. Dollar
Insurance BusinesseBay's £42 million stalking settlement raises an old D&O que...
The Star eBay agreed to pay nearly US$50mil to couple sent cockroache...
Economic TimesEBay agrees to $55.7 million settlement over harassment camp...
Boing BoingEbay and former execs to pay $55.7m for harassment campaign ...
Universal HubeBay, disgraced executives to pay $50 million to Natick coup...
MyJoyOnline.comeBay agrees $56m settlement with bloggers over harassment ca...
retail-systems.comeBay reaches $56m settlement with couple after harassment an...
Australian Financial RevieweBay in $80m payout to couple it harassed with cockroaches, ...
SFist - San Francisco News, Restaurants, Events, & SportsEast Coast Bloggers Awarded $56 Million In Cyberstalking, Ha...
engadgeteBay and its former execs settle cyberstalking case brought ...
The AgeCockroaches, spiders and a bloody pig mask: eBay to pay $70 ...
ABC7eBay agreed to pay nearly $50 million to couple sent cockroa...
NourishSettlement reached in harassment case against eBay
GizmodoEBay and Former Execs Will Pay $56 Million to Couple They To...
NewserCouple Harassed by eBay Employees Will Get $49M
Tech Biz WebEbay Has to Pay $55.7 Million in Settlement for Its Unhinged...
The VergeeBay's bizarre cyberstalking saga ends with a $56 million se...
Ars TechnicaeBay, former execs pay $56M to settle "bloody pig mask" hara...
MirrorCouple paid £37.5m by eBay after they were sent cockroaches ...
AOL.comCouple paid £37.5m by eBay after they were sent cockroaches ...
People.comLive Insects and a Bloody Pig Mask: eBay to Pay $55.7M for T...
Yahoo NewsLive Insects and a Bloody Pig Mask: eBay to Pay $55.7M for T...
The Manila timeseBay to pay nearly $50M to couple sent cockroaches, bloody p...
The New York TimesCouple Stalked by eBay Settle for $56 Million
Inc.They Criticized eBay. Then They Got Live Insects, a Bloody P...
BBCeBay agrees $56m settlement with bloggers over harassment ca...
WiredEbay Has to Pay $55.7 Million in Settlement for Its Unhinged...
Skeptic Society MagazineEbay Has to Pay $55.7 Million in Settlement for Its Unhinged...
The IndependentEbay agrees to pay couple $50m after they were sent cockroac...
20 MinutenEbay-Schikanekampagne: Online-Marktplatz zahlt Bloggern über...
rtl.deEbay: Mega-Strafe wegen tyrannisiertem Blogger-Ehepaar
N-tvBlogger-Kritik war unerwünscht: Ebay muss für Tyrannisieren ...
finanzen.cheBay-Aktie im Plus: Über 50 Millionen Dollar für tyrannisier...
The GuardianEBay and ex-executives to pay $55.7m to couple sent cockroac...
About these frames
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The Advocate: Liberty, speech, privacy, autonomy, rights, consent, choice. What freedoms are at stake.
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