So there's this couple — David and Ina Steiner from Massachusetts, they ran a newsletter covering eBay. Apparently wrote a bit too critically. And in 2019, company employees decided to "convince" them to stop: live insects in the mail, a bloody pig mask, a funeral wreath. Seven employees were eventually convicted.
The Steiners filed suit in 2021, and now it's settled. eBay pays
$46.15M, former CEO Devin Wenig chips in another $2M, former executives a bit less. Plus $6M goes to nonprofits. Total: $55.7M. The company had already paid a $3M criminal fine back in 2024.eBay's statement calls the whole thing "wrong and reprehensible." Better late than never, I guess.
The Verge has the full story.