Scalli Murphy Law Announces Landmark Resolution in eBay Cyberstalking Litigation

Historic civil rights settlement includes $55.7 million in compensation and charitable commitments – including personal financial contributions from former eBay executives, a public statement by eBay, and no confidentiality restrictions.

EVERETT, Mass. — July 27, 2026 — Scalli Murphy Law, P.C. today announced a landmark civil rights settlement resolving the civil litigation brought by David and Ina Steiner, reporters and founders of the news site EcommerceBytes, against eBay, Inc., several former eBay executives, and other employees arising from the company’s widely publicized 2019 cyberstalking and harassment campaign designed to stop their reporting.

The settlement follows over six years of criminal and civil proceedings. In addition to substantial compensation for the plaintiffs, the resolution includes significant charitable commitments, personal financial contributions from former eBay executives, a public statement by eBay, and no confidentiality restrictions.

Under the settlement:

• The plaintiffs will receive $48.7 million in compensation, including $46.15 million from eBay, $2 million from former eBay executive CEO Devin Wenig, $500,000 from former eBay executive Wendy Jones, and $50,000 from former eBay executive Steve Wymer.
• eBay will fund $6 million in charitable contributions to various nonprofit organizations. Former eBay executive CEO Devin Wenig will contribute an additional $1 million to a charity dedicated to protecting First Amendment rights in the name of Ina Steiner.
• eBay will issue a strongly-worded public statement regarding the conduct of former eBay CEO Devin Wenig and former eBay executives Steve Wymer and Wendy Jones in connection with the events occurring in Natick, MA and the culture of the company in 2019.
• The settlement contains no confidentiality provision, allowing the Steiners to publicly discuss the facts of the case and its resolution.
• Additional and separate settlements were reached with all other eBay employees named in the civil action.

Scalli Murphy Law was the first law firm involved in the matter. In 2019, while the harassment campaign was still underway, David and Ina Steiner contacted the firm seeking help. Scalli Murphy Law assisted the Steiners who were ultimately able to involve the Natick police and FBI investigators.

The United States Department of Justice, through the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, indicted former eBay employees Jim Baugh, David Harville, Brian Gilbert, Stephanie Popp, Stephanie Stockwell, Philip Cooke, and former eBay contractor Veronica Zea. Each ultimately pleaded guilty for their roles in the terror campaign.

eBay itself was also criminally charged and entered into a Deferred Prosecution Agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice, agreeing to pay the maximum available criminal fine of $3 million and undertake serious corrective action.

The Steiners filed a civil lawsuit against all defendants in 2021.

In the spring of 2024, after changing counsel, the Steiners retained Scalli Murphy Law, Diller Law LLP, Finkelstein & Partners LLP, and Finkelstein, Blankinship, Frei-Pearson & Garber, LLP—to lead the civil litigation.

“This case was always about more than obtaining financial recovery. From the beginning, our clients wanted to uncover the truth, protect journalists and publishers, hold those responsible accountable, deter future corporate misconduct, and help ensure others would never have to endure what they experienced. Through years of discovery, motion practice and trial preparation, we were able to accomplish those objectives while securing meaningful compensation for two wonderful people. We believe this resolution sends a clear message that corporations and their executives cannot engage in this type of misconduct without facing significant consequences,” said Christopher Murphy.

Additional background information regarding the litigation, criminal proceedings and settlement is available upon request.

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Scalli Murphy Law, P.C. is a Massachusetts personal injury and wrongful death practice based in Everett, representing injured people across Greater Boston and the North Shore.

Media inquiries: Scalli Murphy Law, P.C., 537 Broadway, Everett, MA 02149 · (617) 387-7000 · Contact the firm

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Case Timeline, 2019–2026

• Summer 2019According to federal prosecutors, employees of eBay’s security team carried out a harassment campaign against David and Ina Steiner, the Natick couple behind the e-commerce news site EcommerceBytes, aimed at stopping their reporting. The campaign included threatening messages and a series of disturbing deliveries to the Steiners’ home, among them live insects and a bloody pig mask, along with a surveillance trip to Natick.
• August 2019With the campaign still underway, the Steiners contacted the Natick Police Department and retained Scalli Murphy Law, the first law firm involved in the matter. The firm assisted the Steiners as Natick police and FBI investigators took up the case.
• June 2020The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts announced federal charges against former members of eBay’s security team.
• 2020–2022All seven charged individuals, six former eBay employees and one contractor, pleaded guilty for their roles in the campaign. Sentences ranged from home confinement to 57 months in federal prison.
• July 2021The Steiners filed a civil action in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts against eBay, former executives, and other employees.
• Spring 2024After changing counsel, the Steiners retained Scalli Murphy Law, Diller Law LLP, Finkelstein & Partners LLP, and Finkelstein, Blankinship, Frei-Pearson & Garber, LLP to lead the civil litigation through discovery, motion practice, and trial preparation.
• January 2025eBay itself was criminally charged and entered a Deferred Prosecution Agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice, agreeing to pay the maximum available criminal fine of $3 million and undertake corrective action.
• July 27, 2026The parties announced the settlement: $48.7 million in compensation to the Steiners, $7 million in charitable commitments, a public statement by eBay, and no confidentiality restrictions.

The People in the Case

David and Ina Steiner

Reporters and founders of EcommerceBytes, a trade publication covering the e-commerce industry since 1999. Their reporting on eBay drew the attention of the company’s leadership and security team. Under the settlement they receive $48.7 million and remain free to discuss the case publicly.

Devin Wenig

eBay’s chief executive officer from 2015 until September 2019. Wenig was not criminally charged. Under the settlement he personally contributes $2 million in compensation and an additional $1 million to a charity dedicated to protecting First Amendment rights, established in Ina Steiner’s name.

Wendy Jones and Steve Wymer

Former eBay executives. Neither was criminally charged. Jones contributes $500,000 and Wymer $50,000 in personal compensation under the settlement. eBay’s public statement addresses their conduct along with Wenig’s and the company culture of 2019.

The Charged Employees

Jim Baugh, David Harville, Brian Gilbert, Stephanie Popp, Stephanie Stockwell, Philip Cooke, and contractor Veronica Zea each pleaded guilty to federal charges for their roles in the campaign.

eBay, Inc.

The company was criminally charged and entered a Deferred Prosecution Agreement with the Department of Justice, paying the maximum available $3 million criminal fine. Under the civil settlement, eBay pays $46.15 million to the Steiners, funds $6 million in charitable contributions, and issued a public statement regarding the conduct of its former executives and the company culture of 2019.

Questions About the Settlement

How much is the eBay cyberstalking settlement?

The total package is $55.7 million: $48.7 million in compensation to David and Ina Steiner ($46.15 million from eBay, $2 million from Devin Wenig, $500,000 from Wendy Jones, and $50,000 from Steve Wymer), $6 million in charitable contributions funded by eBay, and $1 million contributed by Wenig to a First Amendment charity in Ina Steiner’s name.

Is there a confidentiality agreement?

No. The settlement contains no confidentiality provision. The Steiners are free to discuss the facts of the case and its resolution publicly.

Who was criminally charged?

Seven individuals, six former eBay employees and one contractor, were charged federally and pleaded guilty. eBay itself was criminally charged and entered a Deferred Prosecution Agreement, paying the maximum $3 million fine. Former executives Devin Wenig, Wendy Jones, and Steve Wymer were not criminally charged; each contributes personally under the civil settlement.

What is a Deferred Prosecution Agreement?

An agreement in which the government files criminal charges but agrees to defer prosecution while the company pays penalties and completes corrective measures. If the company complies, the charges are dismissed.

What public statement did eBay make?

As part of the settlement, eBay agreed to issue a strongly-worded public statement regarding the conduct of former CEO Devin Wenig and former executives Steve Wymer and Wendy Jones in connection with the events in Natick, Massachusetts, and the culture of the company in 2019.

Where did the harassment take place?

The Steiners live and work in Natick, Massachusetts. The deliveries, threats, and surveillance targeted their home and business there, which is why the Natick Police Department and the FBI’s Boston division led the investigation and the District of Massachusetts brought the prosecutions.

What role did Scalli Murphy Law play?

Scalli Murphy Law was the first law firm involved. The Steiners contacted the firm in 2019 while the harassment campaign was still underway, and the firm assisted them as Natick police and the FBI took up the investigation. In 2024 the firm was retained, with co-counsel, to lead the civil litigation through to the 2026 settlement.

Press Coverage

The settlement was covered by national and international press, including Yahoo Finance, TechCrunch, People, Gizmodo, Global News, Slashdot, Daring Fireball, Moneywise, and BroBible, along with international outlets in Japan, Finland, France, and beyond. See all press coverage.