A Los Angeles County jury has awarded $176 million in damages to the family of two young brothers killed by socialite Rebecca Grossman and former baseball player Scott Erickson in a 2020 car crash. The verdict, returned Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, found both defendants negligent and acting with malice.
Key Takeaways
A Los Angeles County jury awarded $176 million to the family of two boys killed by socialite Rebecca Grossman and former baseball player Scott Erickson in a 2020 car crash. The verdict found both defendants negligent and acting with malice, allowing for punitive damages to be considered.
- Jury awards $59M for Mark Iskander's death, $48M for Jacob's death
- Additional $35M awarded for emotional distress and $34M to surviving brother
- Crash occurred when Grossman struck boys while driving at 73 mph in a Westlake Village crosswalk
- Punitive damages phase began with accusations of asset hiding by defendants
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▼Source Claims Check
High ConsensusAll 7 publishers report consistent facts across 3 key claims.
| Claim | Status | Reason | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damages Awarded | Broad Agreement | $176 million total, including $59M and $48M for wrongful death | |
| Crash Speed | Broad Agreement | Grossman traveling at 73 mph | |
| Asset Transfers | Broad Agreement | $1M loan and property transfers questioned in court |
Damages Awarded
Broad Agreement$176 million total, including $59M and $48M for wrongful death
Crash Speed
Broad AgreementGrossman traveling at 73 mph
Asset Transfers
Broad Agreement$1M loan and property transfers questioned in court
This analysis is AI-generated and may not perfectly represent each source's reporting. Always read the original articles for full context.
The jury awarded $59 million for the wrongful death of Mark Iskander, $48 million for Jacob's death, $35 million to Nancy Iskander for emotional distress, and $34 million to Zachary Iskander. The punitive damages phase began Thursday.
The crash occurred in September 2020 when Grossman struck the boys with her Mercedes SUV while they were crossing a street in Westlake Village. Expert witnesses testified that she was traveling at approximately 73 mph. Erickson, who was driving ahead of Grossman, avoided hitting the family but did not stop after the crash.
The jury found that both defendants acted with malice and oppression, allowing for punitive damages to be considered. The verdict came after an eight-week trial where attorneys presented evidence of street racing and impaired driving.
Grossman is currently serving a 15-year-to-life prison sentence for felony murder in connection with the boys' death. According to UPI, the defense argued that there was no evidence of racing or impairment, and that visibility issues contributed to the crash. Esther Holm, Grossman's attorney, stated that her client was not impaired by alcohol or valium and was traveling at about 52 mph.
The second phase of the trial began Thursday with Brian Panish, attorney for the boys’ parents, accusing Grossman and her husband, renowned plastic surgeon Dr Peter Grossman, of hiding millions in assets by transferring properties to trusts in order to avoid paying the Iskanders. Holm countered that these transfers were ‘lawful,’ adding that Grossman had not earned income for many years before the accident.
Erickson’s attorney, Jeff Braun, told the jury Thursday that Erickson's ability to pay was limited to his current assets which amount to $9,000 in his bank account, $242,000 in an investment account, $804,000 in a pro baseball retirement account - from which he receives $13,000 monthly - plus $100,000 equity in the Las Vegas condo where he lives.
The jury also decided that Grossman and Erickson ‘acted in concert’ leading up to the deadly crash. Both defendants now face paying separate punitive damages that are awarded as punishment for their behavior that led to the deaths of the two young boys.
How this summary was created
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