A Los Angeles jury delivered a $176 million verdict to the family of two brothers who lost their lives when they were struck by a vehicle in a crosswalk incident that occurred almost six years ago.
Jurors determined that Rebecca Grossman and Scott Erickson, a former pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, were both at fault in the tragic deaths of Mark Iskander, 11, and Jacob Iskander, 8.
Wednesday’s verdict covered wrongful death claims and emotional suffering damages. A trial judge will make the final decision on how much money each defendant must pay.
Legal proceedings are set to continue Friday as the jury still needs to consider whether the boys’ parents, Nancy and Karim Iskander, should receive punitive damages.
Grossman received a 15-year-to-life prison sentence in 2024 following her conviction on charges of second-degree murder, gross vehicular manslaughter, and hit-and-run driving in a criminal case. She helped establish the Grossman Burn Foundation and is married to a well-known burn specialist.
The children’s parents pursued civil litigation against both Grossman and Erickson, who was operating his vehicle in front of her when the Iskander boys were fatally injured. Legal proceedings in that case started in April.
The fatal incident took place during the evening hours of Sept. 29, 2020, in Westlake Village, located on Los Angeles County’s western border.
Brian Panish, representing the Iskander family, contended that both defendants drove dangerously after consuming margaritas together. The pair were romantically involved while Grossman was separated from her spouse.
Panish stated that Grossman was traveling at 73 mph when her vehicle hit the children in the crosswalk on a street with a 45 mph speed restriction.
He explained that Grossman was behind Erickson, who was also exceeding the speed limit and barely avoided hitting the family.
“This was a totally preventable collision,” Panish told the jury in closing arguments Wednesday. “They went out for a walk and they never came home.”
Esther Holm, representing Grossman, rejected claims that her client was under the influence. She argued that Grossman became distracted after witnessing the boys’ mother jump away from Erickson’s approaching car.
“Ms. Grossman was not driving impaired,” Holm told the jury. “She did not see the children, as her attention was diverted by Ms. Iskander.”
Jeff Braun, Erickson’s legal counsel, acknowledged the tragic nature of the boys’ deaths but stressed that his client’s car “made no contact with the children.”
