Rebecca Grossman and Former Lover Scott Erickson Ordered to Pay $176 Million to Family of Boys Killed in Devastating Crash

LOS ANGELES COUNTY, California — A California civil jury has ordered convicted child killer Rebecca Grossman and her former lover, former Major League Baseball pitcher Scott Erickson, to pay $176 million in damages to the family of two young brothers who were killed in a horrific 2020 crash that shattered a family and captivated the nation.

The verdict came after nearly two months of emotional testimony, expert analysis, and courtroom arguments that revisited the tragic deaths of 11-year-old Mark Iskander and his 8-year-old brother, Jacob Iskander. Jurors ultimately concluded that both Grossman and Erickson shared responsibility for the events leading up to the fatal collision.

The decision represents one of the largest wrongful-death awards in recent California history and could grow substantially larger in the coming months. Jurors also determined that both defendants acted with a level of misconduct that may justify additional punitive damages, potentially adding millions more to the total judgment.

For Karim and Nancy Iskander, the verdict represented another step in a years-long pursuit of accountability following the loss of their children.

The emotional civil trial unfolded against the backdrop of a tragedy that occurred on a September evening in 2020 in Westlake Village, an affluent community northwest of Los Angeles. On that night, the Iskander family was crossing a street in a marked pedestrian crosswalk when disaster struck.

According to prosecutors and attorneys representing the family, Grossman and Erickson had spent time together drinking margaritas at a nearby establishment before getting behind the wheel of separate vehicles. Witnesses later described the pair as driving aggressively and at extremely high speeds shortly before the collision.

Jurors were asked to determine whether those actions directly contributed to the deaths of Mark and Jacob.

After approximately two days of deliberations, the panel of twelve jurors returned with a unanimous verdict awarding $176 million in compensatory damages to the surviving members of the Iskander family.

The award included compensation for the loss of companionship, emotional suffering, and the devastating psychological impact that followed the deaths of the two boys.

Jurors awarded the parents millions for the loss of their sons’ love, affection, companionship, and emotional support. Additional damages were granted to compensate Nancy Iskander for years of severe emotional distress that followed the tragedy, as well as future suffering expected to continue throughout her life.

The family’s surviving son, Zachary, who was only five years old at the time of the crash, also received substantial compensation. Zachary narrowly escaped being struck himself after his mother desperately pulled him out of danger moments before impact.

Court testimony revealed the profound trauma Zachary experienced after witnessing the violent deaths of his brothers.

Family members described how life changed forever after that evening. Holidays, birthdays, school milestones, and family celebrations became painful reminders of the two boys who should have been present.

Throughout the proceedings, jurors listened to testimony detailing not only the circumstances of the crash but also the lives that were lost.

Mark and Jacob were described as energetic, compassionate, and deeply loved children with bright futures ahead of them. Friends, teachers, and relatives recalled their enthusiasm for sports, school, family activities, and their close bond with each other.

Attorneys for the Iskander family argued that the boys’ deaths were entirely preventable.

The case centered on allegations that Grossman and Erickson were effectively racing each other moments before the collision. Jurors ultimately concluded that the two defendants had acted in concert before the crash, a finding that significantly strengthened the family’s argument that responsibility extended beyond Grossman alone.

Although Grossman had already been found criminally responsible for the deaths, the civil case sought to determine the extent of financial liability and Erickson’s role in the events leading up to the tragedy.

Jurors found Erickson negligent and determined that his conduct was a substantial contributing factor in the deaths of the boys.

That finding represented a significant victory for the Iskander family, whose attorneys had argued from the beginning that Erickson should not escape accountability simply because he was not criminally charged with homicide.

Perhaps the most consequential aspect of the verdict involved the jury’s findings regarding malice and oppression.

Jurors concluded that Grossman acted with malice or oppression and similarly found grounds to support punitive damages against Erickson.

Those findings trigger a second phase of the trial in which jurors will consider evidence related to the defendants’ finances before determining how much additional punishment should be imposed.

Punitive damages differ from compensatory damages because they are intended not merely to compensate victims but to punish particularly reckless or reprehensible behavior and discourage similar conduct in the future.

As the verdict was read, observers in the courtroom described an emotional atmosphere. Members of the Iskander family reportedly embraced one another while supporters quietly reflected on the years-long legal battle that brought them to that moment.

Following the verdict, attorney Brian Panish, who represents the family, indicated that the legal fight was not yet over.

He emphasized that further proceedings remained ahead as jurors prepare to consider punitive damages.

The civil trial also exposed several troubling details regarding Erickson’s conduct both before and after the crash.

During testimony, the former professional baseball star admitted that he had not been truthful with investigators about his alcohol consumption on the night of the collision.

He also acknowledged a prior DUI conviction from years earlier and admitted that when authorities requested inspection of the vehicle he drove that evening, he initially provided a different vehicle.

Those revelations became central points of discussion throughout the trial.

Despite those admissions, Erickson continued to deny responsibility for the crash itself.

He testified that he was not racing Grossman and insisted that he was neither intoxicated nor driving recklessly at the time. He disputed witness accounts suggesting that his vehicle had been traveling at speeds approaching 100 miles per hour.

Erickson further claimed that he successfully passed through the intersection without striking anyone and stated that he saw the boys before the collision occurred.

His testimony sharply contrasted with the narrative presented by the Iskander family’s attorneys, who argued that both drivers created the dangerous conditions that ultimately resulted in tragedy.

Meanwhile, Grossman’s legal team attempted to portray the incident as a terrible accident rather than an intentional or reckless act.

Her attorneys argued that she never saw the boys in the crosswalk and suggested that factors such as inadequate lighting, poor signage, and roadway conditions may have contributed to the collision.

The defense also disputed allegations that Grossman was impaired by alcohol or drugs at the time.

Jurors ultimately rejected many of those arguments.

They specifically found that the crosswalk itself was not in a dangerous condition, undermining one of the key defense claims that roadway design contributed significantly to the crash.

The verdict adds to the mounting legal consequences facing Grossman.

Earlier, in her criminal trial, jurors convicted her of two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of vehicular manslaughter, and one count of hit-and-run driving. She is currently serving a sentence of 15 years to life in state prison.

Evidence presented during that criminal proceeding showed that Grossman continued driving after striking the children despite catastrophic damage to her Mercedes SUV.

The civil case also renewed public interest in Grossman’s relationship with Erickson.

At the time of the crash, the two were involved in a romantic relationship while Grossman was separated from her husband, plastic surgeon Dr. Peter Grossman. Because Dr. Grossman owned the vehicle involved in the crash, he was also named in aspects of the civil litigation.

For the Iskander family, however, the focus has never been on celebrity, wealth, or scandal.

Instead, they have consistently emphasized the loss of two beloved children whose lives ended far too soon.

Years after the tragedy, the pain remains evident.

While no amount of money can replace Mark and Jacob, the jury’s decision represents a powerful acknowledgment of the suffering endured by their family and a public declaration that those responsible should be held accountable.

As the case moves into the punitive-damages phase, Grossman and Erickson may face even greater financial consequences. For now, however, the $176 million verdict stands as one of the most significant legal judgments to emerge from a crash that forever changed the lives of the Iskander family.