Jury Awards $176 Million in Wrongful Death Lawsuit
A jury has ordered convicted child killer Rebecca Grossman and her former partner, former professional baseball player Scott Erickson, to pay $176 million in damages to the parents of two young brothers who died in a tragic hit-and-run incident. The verdict was announced on Wednesday, concluding the eighth week of a civil wrongful death trial.
Grossman, 64, and Erickson, 58, were also found to have acted with “malice or oppression” prior to the crash. This finding means both individuals could face substantial punitive damages in addition to the $176 million in compensatory damages awarded to the victims’ family.
Details of the Fatal Collision
Jurors determined that Grossman and Erickson had shared alcoholic beverages before engaging in a high-speed race, which ultimately led to Grossman striking and killing 11-year-old Mark and 8-year-old Jacob Iskander. The boys’ parents, Nancy and Karim Iskander, along with their third son Zachary, who was five at the time and narrowly escaped harm, brought the wrongful death lawsuit.
The jury, composed of eight women and four men, deliberated for two days before reaching their verdict. The total compensatory damages include $14 million awarded to the parents for the loss of Mark and Jacob’s love and companionship since the crash, and an additional $93 million for the anticipated future loss of that companionship.
Emotional Distress Awards
Nancy Iskander was awarded $10 million for severe emotional distress experienced since the accident, and $25 million for future emotional distress. Brother Zachary was awarded $6 million for past serious emotional distress and $28 million for future serious emotional distress.
Legal Arguments and Verdict Details
During the proceedings, Grossman’s attorney indicated her willingness to pay “reasonable damages,” though no specific amount was stated. Erickson’s legal representative had previously offered a payout of $10 million.
Jurors found Erickson negligent, stating his negligence was a “substantial factor” in the boys’ deaths. The presiding judge had previously ruled Grossman negligent in a directed verdict. The jury also concluded that Grossman and Erickson acted in concert leading up to the fatal collision.
In their verdict, jurors answered “yes” to questions regarding Grossman acting with “malice or oppression” and Erickson acting with fraud, as well as malice or oppression. This opens the door for a second phase of the trial where punitive damages will be decided, pending evidence and testimony on the financial standings of Grossman and Erickson.
The jury also rejected Grossman’s assertion that the Westlake Village crosswalk where the accident occurred was in a dangerous condition, concluding that it was not.
Following the verdict, the Iskanders’ attorney stated that there is still more work to be done in the case.
