In a groundbreaking development, a federal judge in Boston ruled that the legal battle initiated by a Massachusetts couple against former eBay Inc executives, including CEO Devin Wenig, can move forward. The decision comes in the wake of a criminal prosecution against seven ex-eBay employees who admitted to orchestrating a disturbing campaign targeting the couple, known for their critical newsletter, EcommerceBytes.
U.S. District Judge Patti Saris, in her Tuesday ruling, refined the lawsuit filed by David and Ina Steiner. The couple alleged that eBay employees engaged in a relentless campaign to harass and stalk them, involving unsettling home deliveries such as cockroaches and a funeral wreath. Although the judge dismissed stalking and assault claims against some defendants, she allowed charges of emotional distress and negligence to proceed.
The Steiners, residing in Natick, Massachusetts, have been vocal critics of eBay through their newsletter. The lawsuit, initiated in 2021, accuses eBay, top executives, and others of terrorizing the couple. Judge Saris rejected motions to dismiss claims of emotional distress and negligence against Wenig and two other eBay executives, asserting that harm to the Steiners was reasonably foreseeable.
The ruling paves the way for the case against most of the 13 defendants to potentially go to trial in March 2025, following the extensive harassment campaign by eBay employees in 2019. EBay, currently engaged in settlement talks with the Steiners, has not provided any comments on the recent development. The company had set aside $64 million to cover potential liabilities from this case and related settlements.
While Wenig was not charged in the criminal prosecution, the Steiners’ lawsuit contends that he played a role in instigating the harassment. The legal battle unfolds against the backdrop of a text message from Wenig to another executive in August 2019, where he allegedly stated it was time to “take her down,” referring to Ina Steiner.
As the case progresses, the intricate web of allegations and legal maneuvers promises a protracted and closely watched legal saga. The Steiners’ pursuit of justice serves as a poignant chapter in the evolving landscape of online criticism and the responsibilities of corporate leaders.
