eBay and Former Executives Settle $56 Million Harassment Case with Blogger Couple
eBay has agreed to pay nearly $56 million as part of a settlement with Ina and David Steiner, the founders of an influential e-commerce blog. The couple was subjected to a harassment campaign in 2019 by former eBay employees who were upset about their critical coverage of the company. Communications revealed in court documents showed senior executives discussing ways to silence them. The civil case, which began in 2021, includes payments from eBay ($46.1 million), former CEO Devin Wenig ($2 million), and other ex-executives. The settlement also requires donations to various nonprofits. eBay stated the actions were not representative of its culture and highlighted internal reforms made since the incident. Seven former employees have pleaded guilty in connection with the harassment, including one who received a nearly five-year prison sentence. Wenig denied knowledge of the campaign at the time.
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Topics: e-commerce executive misconduct harassment settlement