eBay and several former executives reach a settlement of about $56 million with David and Ina Steiner, a couple that publishes an e-commerce newsletter. The settlement resolves a civil lawsuit filed in 2021 in federal court in Boston. The Steins said they were targeted after sometimes publishing critical coverage of eBay.
Multiple outlets report that the case stems from a campaign in 2019 intended to intimidate the couple into stopping their reporting. According to coverage of the matter, former eBay employees and executives carried out harassment and stalking, and law enforcement actions against some individuals were tied to the same conduct.
The alleged tactics described in reporting include threats and a physical harassment campaign involving items sent to the couple, such as cockroaches and other disturbing materials. The agreed payment is reported at $56 million by some outlets and $55.7 million by others, reflecting small differences in how the figure is stated. The settlement is presented as a final resolution of the civil claims brought by the Steins over the 2019 effort to silence their coverage.
