Full Breakdown
Civil Wrongful-Death Trial Begins Over 2020 Westlake Village Crash
4/25/2026, 9:44:57 PM
Trial Launch: Opening Statements in Van Nuys Courtroom
Opening statements were delivered on Friday, Feb 23 2024, in a Van Nuys courtroom. The civil suit targets socialite Rebecca Grossman, serving a 15-year-to-life sentence, and former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Scott Erickson. Grossman did not appear and is not expected to testify; Erickson is slated to take the stand.
Background: 2020 Crash and Criminal Convictions
On Sept 29 2020, a three-way intersection in Westlake Village—lacking a traffic signal—became the site of a fatal collision. Mark Iskander, 11, and his brother Jacob Iskander, 8, were crossing in a marked crosswalk with their mother when they were struck. The older boy died at the scene; the younger died later in hospital. Prosecutors alleged Grossman was driving a white Mercedes SUV at 81 mph in a 45-mph zone after leaving a restaurant with Erickson. Grossman was later convicted of two counts of second-degree murder and sentenced to 15 years to life. One source places the conviction two years earlier (2022); another cites a 2024 conviction upheld on appeal, creating a discrepancy.
Key Parties
- Rebecca Grossman – Socialite, co-founder of the Grossman Burn Foundation, primary civil defendant.
- Scott Erickson – Former Dodgers pitcher, Grossman’s ex-boyfriend, secondary defendant.
- Nancy and Karim Iskander – Parents of the deceased boys, plaintiffs.
- Brian Panish – Attorney for the Iskander family.
- Ester Hold – Attorney for Grossman.
- Erickson’s attorney – Unnamed, representing the former pitcher.
- City of Westlake Village – Implicated by defense as having an unsafe intersection.
Timeline
- Sept 29 2020 – Crash occurs.
- 2022 – One source reports Grossman’s criminal conviction.
- 2024 – Another source reports conviction and appellate affirmation.
- Feb 23 2024 – Civil trial opening statements.
- Next 6–8 weeks – Trial expected to run.
Data & Statistics
- Victims: 11-year-old Mark Iskander and 8-year-old Jacob Iskander.
- Alleged speed: 81 mph (prosecutors) and >80 mph (animation); Panish cited a 73 mph impact.
- Speed limit: 45 mph.
- Sentence: 15 years to life.
- Vehicles: Grossman’s white Mercedes SUV; Erickson’s black SUV, later alleged to have had switched plates.
- Crash site distance: Grossman stopped roughly ¼ mile from impact.
Official Statements & Responses
Panish argued Erickson’s racing blocked the boys’ escape and that Grossman’s speed caused the fatal impact. Hold contended Grossman never saw the children, that other factors contributed, and that the intersection’s design was hazardous. Erickson’s counsel denied any flight, rejected claims of knowledge about the crash, and challenged the speed estimates.
Criticism & Opposition
Grossman’s defense maintains she was not impaired, did not exceed the speed limit, and that municipal negligence created a dangerous crossing. The defense also points to alleged evidence tampering, such as switched license plates, and accuses prosecutors of a “rush to judgment.”
On-the-Ground Reports
Witnesses described the vehicles as moving “insanely fast” and “like a bat out of hell, clearly racing.” Panish’s animation visualized both cars exceeding the posted limit.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Conviction timing differs (2022 vs 2024).
- Erickson’s alleged flight and three-hour hideout are disputed by his attorney.
- Whether Grossman saw the children in the crosswalk remains contested.
- Erickson did not testify in the criminal trial, leaving gaps in the factual record.
Verbatim Quotes
1. “It was insanely fast,” — Unnamed witness
2. “They were like a bat out of hell, clearly racing.” — Unnamed witness
3. “Because Mr. Erickson is racing, and he’s in the first lane, he blocks off the boys ability to escape,” — Brian Panish, Iskander family attorney
4. “The evidence will show Ms. Grossman never saw the children in the crosswalk,” — Ester Hold, Grossman's attorney
5. “And they are both hit at 73 miles an hour by Ms. Grossman. 73 miles an hour, which is the equivalent of taking a 4,800 pound car and dropping it from a 12-story building.” — Brian Panish, Iskander family attorney
What’s Next
The civil trial is slated to continue for six to eight weeks, after which a jury will determine liability and any monetary damages. Erickson is expected to testify, and the outcome may influence any further appeals or civil actions.
