Corporate retaliation rarely turns into a real-life horror story. But for David and Ina Steiner, founders of the e-commerce trade publication EcommerceBytes, a disagreement with tech executives exploded into a terrifying campaign of harassment. EBay agreed to pay a massive $55.7 million settlement to resolve a civil lawsuit brought by the Massachusetts couple.
If you think corporate oversight stops at nasty emails, this case proves otherwise.
How a Newsletter Sparked Corporate Madness
Back in 2019, the Steiners ran a modest newsletter out of their home in Natick, Massachusetts. They reported on online retail platforms, including eBay. Sometimes, their coverage stung. Readers left critical comments, and executive leadership grew furious.
Former CEO Devin Wenig and other high-ranking officials took notice. Internal text messages revealed a toxic desire to silence the independent publishers. Wenig texted "Take her down," while another executive wrote about wanting to see ashes.
What started as executive annoyance turned into a coordinated operation run by eBay's security department.
The Bizarre and Terrifying Campaign
Most corporate retaliation involves PR spin or legal threats. EBay employees went a completely different route. They launched a multi-layered cyberstalking and physical intimidation campaign that rattled federal investigators.
The couple received packages they never ordered. Deliveries included a bloody pig mask, live spiders, cockroaches, and a funeral wreath. They received a book about surviving the death of a spouse. Pornographic magazines were sent to their neighbors with David Steiner's name attached.
The harassment did not stay online or in the mail. Strangers showed up at their house at odd hours because employees posted the couple's address on Craigslist as a destination for swingers. Surveillance teams followed them in rental vans. Perpetrators even tried to attach a hidden GPS tracking device to the couple's car.
The Steiners began sleeping in separate rooms. If someone broke in, at least one person could escape or call the police.
The Legal Fallout and Massive Payout
The scheme unraveled when local police caught onto the GPS tracking attempt, triggering an FBI investigation. Seven former eBay employees and contractors eventually pleaded guilty to criminal charges. Some went to prison. EBay previously paid a $3 million criminal penalty in 2024.
The civil settlement brings the financial total much higher. The $55.7 million total includes $48.7 million directly for David and Ina Steiner. That figure includes personal contributions from former executives like Devin Wenig, Wendy Jones, and Steve Wymer. Another $6 million goes to various charitable organizations, including a grant to protect First Amendment rights.
EBay issued a public apology condemning the actions of its former staff. Former executives maintain they did not know the full scope of the harassment, though internal messages painted a damning picture.
Independent journalism carries risks, but accountability matters. The Steiners refused to shut down their publication. They proved that even massive tech conglomerates cannot weaponize corporate security without facing severe consequences.
Couple reaches $56 million settlement in lawsuit over harassment campaign
This video provides additional context regarding the legal settlement and the ongoing fallout for the e-commerce giant.
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