Rebecca Grossman and Scott Erickson found liable for $176 million in tragic deaths of Iskander brothers

A Los Angeles jury has ordered the socialite and the former MLB pitcher to pay significant damages following a 2020 high-speed collision that claimed the lives of two young siblings.

Five years after a devastating incident in Westlake Village shattered a family, a Los Angeles jury has delivered a $176 million verdict against Rebecca Grossman and former Major League Baseball pitcher Scott Erickson. The civil judgment serves as a profound legal reckoning for the 2020 crash that killed 11-year-old Mark and 8-year-old Jacob Iskander as they attempted to cross a residential street.

Liability and the ‘Acted in Concert’ Finding

The jury determined that both Grossman, a prominent socialite and co-founder of the Grossman Burn Foundation, and Erickson were negligent in the events leading up to the collision. Evidence presented during the trial indicated that the pair had been drinking at a nearby restaurant before the crash. Jurors concluded that the two defendants "acted in concert" while driving, effectively engaging in a high-speed display that resulted in the boys' deaths.

Beyond the primary defendants, the financial burden also falls upon Dr. Peter Grossman. As the owner of the vehicle Rebecca Grossman was driving that day, he was named as a defendant in the civil suit. Because the jury found he had authorized her use of the car, he remains subject to the multi-million dollar penalty alongside his spouse.

A History of Speed and Negligence

The criminal proceedings that preceded this civil outcome painted a harrowing picture of the afternoon. Prosecutors successfully argued that Rebecca Grossman was traveling at speeds nearing 73 mph in a 45 mph zone when her vehicle struck the brothers. The force of the impact was catastrophic, throwing one child over 250 feet and leaving physical evidence on the car’s grille.

Grossman, 62, was convicted of second-degree murder, vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, and hit-and-run resulting in death earlier this year. She is currently serving a sentence of 15 years to life in prison. Scott Erickson, a former All-Star pitcher who played for major franchises including the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles, has faced public scrutiny throughout the legal saga, with reports noting his own reflection on the tragedy and his assertion that his financial resources have been significantly depleted.

The Broader Impact

For the Iskander family, the verdict concludes a long, painful chapter in their quest for justice. The case has served as a grim reminder of the consequences of reckless driving in residential areas, drawing national attention to how legal systems hold influential figures accountable for fatal negligence. As the Los Angeles courts finalize the punitive elements of the ruling, the case remains a landmark example of how civil liability can extend to all parties involved, including those who facilitate the operation of a lethal vehicle.