Baseball Star Scott Erickson Makes Court Appearance in Wrongful Death Case
Former World Series champion Scott Erickson was seen for the first time on Monday since distancing himself from his former lover Rebecca Grossman as their civil wrongful death trial commenced in California. Dressed in a dark jacket, pants, and a white shirt without a tie, the ex-Minnesota Twins pitcher looked somber as he arrived at the Van Nuys courthouse, north of Los Angeles.
Tragic Incident and Criminal Conviction
Grossman's white Mercedes struck and killed Mark Iskander, 11, and his brother Jacob, eight, in September 2020. In 2024, a jury found her guilty of two counts each of second-degree murder and vehicular manslaughter, plus one count of hit-and-run, resulting in a sentence of 15 years to life in prison. Both Grossman and Erickson, now 58, are being sued by the boys' parents, Karim and Nancy Iskander, who seek substantial damages for their loss.
Erickson's Baseball Career and Legal Defense
Erickson, who pitched for the Twins during their 1991 World Series victory and was an All-Star that year, enjoyed a 17-year MLB career with teams including the Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees. In court documents filed last week and obtained by the Daily Mail, Erickson denies racing, drinking, or causing the collision, instead asserting that Grossman was the negligent cause of the fatal incident. His attorneys argue:
- There is no evidence his vehicle made contact with the brothers.
- He was not racing anyone at the time of the crash.
- He was not intoxicated or driving under the influence.
Contrasting Legal Strategies and Allegations
During Grossman's criminal trial, her defense attorneys attempted to blame Erickson, alleging they were racing after sharing cocktails in Westwood Village. Erickson received only a misdemeanor reckless driving charge, later dismissed after he made a public service announcement about safe driving. Despite this, the Iskanders' civil lawsuit holds him equally responsible.
In court addresses, the Iskanders' attorney Brian Panish stated they are seeking tens and tens and tens of millions in damages. Grossman's attorney Esther Holm described the crash as a tragic, horrible accident, citing factors like roadway problems and visibility issues, and claimed Grossman never saw the children.
Evidence and Witnesses
Erickson's lawyer, Deborah Tropp, pointed blame at Grossman, stating evidence shows she drove through the crosswalk, striking the boys. Tropp insisted Erickson, driving ahead, saw the brothers without hitting them and was traveling about 50 mph. She admitted he had a beer and two margaritas about two-and-a-half hours before the accident but was not drunk.
The Iskanders have submitted a list of 107 potential witnesses, including Erickson, and may present unedited footage from Peter Grossman's interview on Dr Phil's podcast, where he claimed his wife was innocent and blamed Erickson.
Asset Protection Concerns
Judge Huey Cotton granted an injunction to prevent Grossman and her husband, plastic surgeon Dr Peter Grossman, from hiding assets to avoid potential damages. Evidence included a jailhouse phone call discussing protecting their $13.5 million mansion and bitcoin holdings. Judge Cotton also revealed that Rebecca Grossman sent him an absolutely unacceptable letter, which he sealed without reading, with a possible $10,000 fine after the trial.
Neither Erickson nor Peter Grossman attended Monday's session, and Rebecca Grossman did not appear via video from prison. The trial is expected to last several weeks, with jury selection ongoing.
