A jury has awarded $176 million to the family of two young boys who lost their lives in a devastating hit-and-run incident, after the driver and her boyfriend engaged in what prosecutors described as a high-speed game of chicken.
The Tragic Incident
Mark and Jacob Iskander, aged 11 and eight, were struck by a speeding Mercedes-Benz SUV while crossing the street with their mother and younger sibling in Westlake Village, Los Angeles County, on September 29, 2020. The driver, Rebecca Grossman, a 62-year-old socialite and former wife of renowned plastic surgeon Peter Grossman, is currently serving a 15-year-to-life sentence in state prison for felony murder.
Civil Trial Verdict
On Wednesday, a jury in a subsequent civil trial determined that Grossman and her then-boyfriend, former professional baseball pitcher Scott Erickson, had acted with negligence and malice. The criminal trial had revealed that Grossman and Erickson raced each other through the streets in black and white Mercedes-Benz SUVs after allegedly consuming margaritas at a nearby restaurant.
Conviction and Sentencing
Grossman failed to stop after the collision and was convicted in February 2024 by a Van Nuys court on two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, and one count of hit-and-run driving resulting in death. Erickson, a former pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, denied wrongdoing and avoided criminal charges by agreeing to film a public service announcement about driving safety.
Legal Reactions
Reacting to the jury's decision, Los Angeles civil litigator Neama Rahmani told The Los Angeles Times that the case had all the elements for a nuclear verdict, including the tragic deaths of two children, witnesses to the deaths, and allegations of drunk driving and street racing. The Iskander family’s attorney, Brian Panish, had requested $375 million, more than double the awarded amount, emphasizing the immense loss suffered by the parents.
Additional Proceedings
Proceedings are set to resume Thursday to determine further punitive damages. Panish stated that there is more work to be done after the initial compensation verdict was read.
Testimony and Defense
During Grossman's criminal trial, the boys' mother, Nancy Iskander, testified that Grossman and Erickson approached the crossing at speeds exceeding 70 mph, zig-zagging between lanes as if playing a game. Grossman did not stop after hitting the boys, even after her airbags deployed, and was found by police a third of a mile away. Iskander expressed that seeing Grossman in handcuffs brought little comfort but provided closure.
Grossman's attorneys attempted to blame Erickson and argued that the city of Westlake Village was responsible for an unsafe crossing point due to overgrown trees. Erickson testified that he was not responsible, denied racing, and claimed he was driving below 50 mph, though he admitted to lying to police about which car he was driving that night.
The legal proceedings extended long after Grossman's sentencing, causing further distress to the Iskanders. Grossman wrote emotional letters to the family and the judge, expressing remorse and launching an unsuccessful appeal.
