LOS ANGELES— A Los Angeles jury has awarded $176 million to the parents of two young brothers killed in a hit‑and‑run collision that occurred when a California socialite’s car struck 11‑year‑old Mark Iskander and 8‑year‑old Jacob Iskander in a crosswalk nearly six years ago.
The jury found both Rebecca Grossman and former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Scott Erickson negligent in the deaths of the Iskander brothers, awarding damages for wrongful death and emotional distress.
Court proceedings will resume on Friday as jurors decide whether to award punitive damages to the boys’ parents, Nancy and Karim Iskander.
Grossman was sentenced in 2024 to serve 15 years to life in prison after a criminal conviction for second‑degree murder, gross vehicular manslaughter and hit‑and‑run driving. She is a co‑founder of the Grossman Burn Foundation and the wife of a prominent burn doctor.
The civil lawsuit was filed in April against both Grossman and Erickson, who was driving ahead of her when the crosswalk tragedy occurred.
The accident took place on the evening of Sept. 29, 2020 in Westlake Village, a city on the western edge of Los Angeles County.
Brian Panish, the Iskander family’s attorney, argued that Grossman and Erickson were both driving recklessly after drinking margaritas together. The two were reportedly dating while Grossman’s marriage was in progress.
Panish said Grossman was traveling 73 mph (117 kph) when her vehicle struck the boys in a crosswalk on a road where the posted speed limit was 45 mph (72 kph). He maintained that Grossman was following Erickson, who was also speeding and narrowly missed the family.
“This was a totally preventable collision,” Panish told the jury in closing arguments. “They went out for a walk and they never came home.”
Grossman’s attorney, Esther Holm, denied that her client was intoxicated. She said Grossman was distracted when she saw the boys’ mother dive out of the way of Erickson’s vehicle.
“Ms. Grossman was not driving impaired,” Holm told the jury. “She did not see the children, as her attention was diverted by Ms. Iskander.”
Erickson’s attorney, Jeff Braun, called the boys’ deaths a tragedy but emphasized that the vehicle he was driving “made no contact with the children.”
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