A civil lawsuit against eBay has reached a settlement, with the company and former executives agreeing to pay $46.15 million to the Steiner couple from EcommerceBytes after a disturbing campaign of harassment.

The 2019 campaign included doxing, threats, and deliveries of live pests, such as cockroaches and spiders. Despite eBay’s new leaders claiming it's not reflective of their current culture, the settlement highlights the severity of corporate misconduct towards critics.

“From day one, that was a dealbreaker,” said Chris Murphy, an attorney for the Steiners. “The Steiners wanted everyone to see what eBay did to them and were ready to go to trial.”

The case has set a precedent in Massachusetts regarding punitive damages from out-of-state corporations. The settlement includes $6 million to charity and more from former executives.

“We remained in our home throughout the harassment, enhancing security systems,” said David Steiner. “This was no small matter for us.”