Overview of Jury Verdict in Civil Wrongful Death Case

A Los Angeles jury has ordered Rebecca Grossman and former Los Angeles Dodgers player Scott Erickson to pay over $20 million in punitive damages after being found responsible for a deadly 2020 hit-and-run crash that killed two young boys.

The ruling comes after an earlier liability verdict in which both defendants were held accountable for the fatal incident.

Crash Victims and Incident Background

The tragic collision occurred in Westlake Village, California, in 2020, and resulted in the deaths of two brothers:

• Mark Iskander (Age: 11)
• Jacob Iskander (Age: 8)

Both children were struck and killed in what prosecutors described as a high-speed traffic incident involving reckless driving and alleged street racing behavior.

Court Compensation and Financial Penalties

Following weeks of civil trial proceedings, the jury issued a significant financial judgment:

• Rebecca Grossman ordered to pay $21 million in punitive damages
• Scott Erickson ordered to pay $1.17 million
• Total combined compensation and damages reach approximately $198 million

The jury determined that both defendants were liable for the wrongful deaths and associated emotional suffering of the victims’ family.

Legal Findings and Jury Reasoning

Jurors concluded that Grossman and Erickson acted with negligence, and evidence suggested they were engaged in coordinated high-speed driving behavior prior to the fatal crash.

The court also found elements of malice, which allowed for the awarding of punitive damages in addition to compensatory payments.

Grossman’s husband, Peter Grossman, was also named in the case due to vehicle ownership linked to the incident.

Family Response to Verdict

The Iskander family expressed deep grief following the decision, stating that no financial award could ever compensate for the loss of their children.

Their legal representative emphasized that while justice was acknowledged through the verdict, the emotional pain for the family remains lifelong and immeasurable.

Criminal Case Background

Rebecca Grossman had previously been convicted in a separate criminal trial for second-degree murder related to the same incident and was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison.

Court records indicate she was driving at speeds of up to 81 mph in a residential area after consuming alcohol.

Scott Erickson, meanwhile, was initially charged with reckless driving but later had his charge dismissed.

Key Legal Outcome

This civil verdict reinforces prior criminal findings and highlights the legal consequences of reckless driving incidents resulting in fatalities, particularly involving minors.