Rebecca Grossman, ex-Dodger found liable for crash that killed two boys; jury awards $176 million

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Rebecca Grossman and former major leaguer Scott Erickson are to blame for the deaths of two young brothers who were struck by Grossman’s SUV in a Westlake Village crosswalk, a jury decided Wednesday.Grossman, 62, is already serving 15 years to life in prison after being convicted of second-degree murder for fatally striking Mark and Jacob Iskander, 11 and 8, with her vehicle on Sept.29, 2020.

A jury, after an eight-week trial, awarded the boys’ parents, Nancy and Karim Iskander, and their younger brother, Zachary, $176 million in wrongful death and emotional distress damages.Erickson, 58, was in a separate SUV ahead of Grossman’s vehicle and also was negligent in the deadly crash, the jury found.

Although it was Grossman’s Mercedes that struck the boys, jurors found that the pair “acted in concert with each other in the course of their activities leading to the fatal collision.”Jurors decided that Grossman also acted with malice and oppression and Erickson acted with malice, oppression, or fraud.That decision means the jury can also issue punitive damages, which could result in millions more being awarded.

A second phase of the trial to deal with those damages is set to begin Thursday.According to witness testimony at the criminal and civil trials, the pair had been drinking margaritas at a Westlake Village cantina before they decided to get behind the wheel in their separate SUVs and drive to Grossman’s home to watch a presidential debate.Around the same time, Mark and Jacob Iskander, 11 and 8, were with their mother and younger sibling approaching a crosswalk at Triunfo Canyon Road.

Experts testified that Erickson and Grossman were speeding along the road.As the family entered the intersection, Erickson drove by them and avoided a collision.

But Grossman did not and struck the two boys at 73 mph, according to expert witnesses.The Iskander family sued Grossman...