eBay settles $55.7 million lawsuit after bizarre harassment of critics
David and Ina Steiner received a $55.7 million settlement from eBay following a lawsuit alleging the marketplace sent them live insects, a bloody pig mask and other unsettling items.
EcommerceBytes founders David and Ina Steiner filed a civil suit in 2021 accusing former eBay executives of orchestrating a harassment campaign after the pair published critical commentary about the online marketplace. According to the Steiners, eBay sent them live cockroaches, spiders, fly larvae, a blood-stained pig mask and a grief-management book, actions they described as intimidation. After years of litigation, the dispute was resolved on July 27 when eBay agreed to a $55.7 million settlement.
Pat Gray, commenting on the outcome, said the settlement reduces some of the lingering tension from the case. The settlement marks the conclusion of one of the most unusual corporate harassment scandals in recent memory.
Why it matters
The case highlights how corporate retaliation can lead to costly legal settlements and raises concerns about free speech in online commerce.
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