Rebecca Grossman jury awards $176 million in damages for death of two young boys
A tragic incident in 2020 involving Los Angeles socialite Rebecca Grossman and former professional baseball player Scott Erickson has resulted in a jury awarding $176 million to the family of two young boys who lost their lives in a deadly crash. The jury found both Grossman and Erickson negligent in the deaths of 11-year-old Mark and 8-year-old Jacob Iskander.
Grossman, who was convicted of murder for the incident, was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison in 2024. Despite her attempts to overturn the conviction, the California appeals court upheld the decision in March, ensuring she serves her full sentence with no early release.
The tragic events unfolded when Grossman’s SUV struck the Iskander brothers in a marked crosswalk, resulting in their untimely deaths. The incident raised questions about the involvement of Erickson, who was driving a separate car nearby and was accused of speeding alongside Grossman. Although Erickson was never charged, he finally addressed the tragedy during the recent wrongful death trial.
Erickson testified that he accelerated when he saw the young boys in the crosswalk, believing it was the safest course of action. Witnesses reported seeing cars racing towards the boys and their family as they crossed the road, with Grossman’s vehicle allegedly traveling at 73 mph in a 45-mph zone at the time of the crash.
The grieving mother of the Iskander boys, Nancy Iskander, recounted the harrowing moment when she narrowly escaped being hit by Erickson’s SUV before witnessing Grossman’s car strike her sons. The impact was so severe that the older brother was thrown over 250 feet.
During the trial, steamy WhatsApp messages between Grossman and Erickson were revealed, showing the couple exchanging messages and coordinating their stories while expressing love for each other. Grossman remains in jail as the legal proceedings continue, with the full extent of the punitive damages yet to be determined.
The heartbreaking incident has left a lasting impact on the Iskander family, who have now been awarded a significant amount in damages to compensate for their loss. The case serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of reckless driving and the importance of accountability in preventing such tragedies from occurring again.
