The Steiners assert that Baugh’s actions caused them to live in constant fear, to the point that they were afraid to leave their home except when absolutely necessary. They claim that eBay’s leadership, including Wenig, Wymer, and Jones, implicitly or explicitly encouraged the harassment, and they argue that the executives turned a blind eye to the actions of Baugh and his team.
The couple also accuses eBay of defaming them by using fake Craigslist ads for sex parties at their home, among other allegations. Furthermore, the Steiners point to eBay’s legal responsibility for the actions of its employees, citing a deferred prosecution agreement in which eBay resolved related criminal charges with the U.S. Department of Justice. Notably, neither Wenig nor Jones faced any repercussions for their roles in the scandal.
The Steiners, who run a blog covering the online retail industry, claim that they became targets of harassment after publishing critical content about Wenig’s spending practices. The harassment included disturbing mailings, such as a severed pig’s head mask, a book on grieving, and other threats, as well as being followed and having a GPS tracker attached to their car.
