eBay acordó pagar casi 50 millones de dólares a una pareja que envió cucarachas, máscara de cerdo ensangrentada

eBay Inc. has agreed to pay nearly $50 million to a Massachusetts couple who claimed they were targeted by former employees in a coordinated harassment campaign involving bizarre and threatening anonymous deliveries. The settlement, finalized Tuesday, marks the resolution of a protracted legal battle that spanned over six years and involved both criminal and civil proceedings. The couple, David and Ina Steiner, are co-founders of EcommerceBytes, an e-commerce industry newsletter. They alleged that former eBay executives orchestrated a campaign to intimidate and silence them after they began publishing critical reports about the company. According to court filings, the harassment included cyberstalking, death threats, and physical surveillance by former eBay workers. The campaign escalated to include anonymous deliveries of live cockroaches, spiders, a bloody pig Halloween mask, a funeral wreath, and even pornographic magazines sent to neighbors. The harassment reportedly culminated in plans to install a GPS tracker on the couple's vehicle and to send a so-called “Samoan gang” to their residence. These plans were never executed, though some actions were carried out. In 2020, federal prosecutors charged seven former eBay employees, accusing them of conspiring to carry out the harassment. All seven eventually pleaded guilty to charges related to cyberstalking and conspiracy, with some receiving prison sentences or home confinement. The case came to a head in 2021 when the Steiners filed a lawsuit in Boston federal court, alleging that eBay had conspired to intimidate, threaten, and silence them. The lawsuit detailed how the company’s former executives allegedly sought to stifle their reporting on eBay. The case was set for trial, but the parties reached a tentative settlement in February. However, the agreement could not be finalized until a new settlement was announced Tuesday. The final settlement includes a total payment of $56 million, with $46.15 million coming directly from eBay. Former CEO Devin Wenig contributed $2 million, while former Senior Vice President Wendy Jones and former Chief Communications Officer Steve Wymer each contributed $500,000 and $50,000 respectively. Additionally, the settlement includes $6 million in charitable donations to nonprofit organizations, including groups supporting First Amendment rights. The agreement does not contain a confidentiality clause, allowing the Steiners to speak publicly about the case. Their attorney, Christopher Murphy, emphasized that the settlement sends a clear message that businesses attempting to suppress speech and the press will not be tolerated. “This was not only an attack and campaign of harassment against two people; it was also an attack on free speech and freedom of the press,” Murphy said. eBay reiterated its condemnation of the actions taken by former employees, calling the behavior “wrong, reprehensible and should never have happened.” The company acknowledged the unprofessional tone in internal communications by former executives and stated that it has since changed leadership and improved its policies and ethics training. The company also issued a public statement addressing the conduct of former executives involved in the case. As the case concludes, the Steiners' experience highlights the potential dangers faced by journalists and critics of large corporations. The settlement underscores the importance of holding individuals accountable for such misconduct and reinforces the need for robust protections for free expression.