  Multistep direct scattering of the ejectile proton is considered in (e,e'p)
reactions in the quasi-free region as an improvement over the usual treatment
of final-state interactions by means of an optical potential. The theory is
applied to 40Ca(e,e'p) as a case example. Important contributions of two- and
three-step processes are found at high missing energy and momentum in agreement
with the experimental trend.
