A jury has ordered Rebecca Grossman to pay $21 million and former baseball player Scott Erickson to pay $1.17 million in punitive damages to the family of two young brothers killed in a 2020 crash. The decision concludes a nine-week trial that found Grossman and Erickson liable for the deaths of Mark and Jacob Iskander, who were struck and killed by speeding SUVs in a Westlake Village crosswalk.
The total damages awarded to the boys' parents and younger brother now approach $200 million. The jury had previously awarded $176 million for wrongful death and emotional distress. The September 2020 collision occurred as Grossman and Erickson, who had been drinking at a local cantina, were racing their SUVs. Erickson testified he avoided hitting the boys, but expert witnesses stated Grossman struck the children at approximately 73 mph.
Grossman was convicted in 2024 on charges including second-degree murder and is currently serving a 15-year-to-life sentence. Her petition to the California Supreme Court to review her conviction was rejected on the same day the civil verdict was announced. The jury found that Erickson and Grossman "acted in concert with each other" leading up to the fatal collision, determining that Grossman acted with malice and oppression, and Erickson with malice, oppression, or fraud.
During the punitive phase, the Iskanders' attorney urged the jury to award damages to "punish and deter" such reckless behavior, describing the actions as a "disaster waiting to happen." Grossman's attorney argued that her client did not intend to harm the children and that the initial damages already sent a message. She also contended that the wealth of Grossman's estranged husband, a prominent surgeon, should not influence the punitive damages.
Testifying in the punitive phase, Erickson expressed remorse for his actions and the tragic outcome. He detailed his financial difficulties, stating he has struggled to find employment since the accident. The prosecution alleged that both Erickson and the Grossmans attempted to conceal their assets. Evidence presented included prison call recordings where Rebecca Grossman and her husband discussed cryptocurrency and asset transfers to their children. The surgeon testified, under pressure from the judge, that he was "yes" sorry for his wife's speeding, drinking, and causing the deaths.
Rebecca Grossman was convicted of two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter, and one count of hit-and-run driving resulting in death. The boys' mother testified that she and her youngest son narrowly avoided being struck by Erickson's vehicle before Grossman's SUV hit Mark and Jacob. Mark's body was found over 250 feet from the impact site, while Jacob was found on the other side of the road.
