Story perspectives

Los Angeles Jury Awards $176M in Street-Racing Deaths

6/6/2026

Left

Grossman Receives Verdict

The civil jury deemed Rebecca Grossman and Scott Erickson’s conduct malicious, triggering a punitive-damages phase.
A Los Angeles civil jury awarded the Iskander family $176 million for the deaths of brothers Mark and Jacob.
Jurors noted Grossman was traveling roughly 73 mph in a 45 mph zone when the boys crossed.
Family lawyers called the verdict a reckoning for street-racing and drinking; defense claimed no proof.

Right

Erickson Testifies

Former MLB pitcher Scott Erickson testified in the wrongful-death trial despite never being charged by prosecutors.
A jury found Rebecca Grossman and Scott Erickson negligent, malicious in 2020 crosswalk crash, awarding $176 million and opening punitive damages.
Rebecca Grossman was convicted of murder for the crash and sentenced to 15-year-to-life in 2024.
In March, an appeals court denied her request to overturn the conviction, keeping her incarcerated.

Blindspot

Left coverage emphasized the alleged street-racing, drinking and the SUV’s speed of about 73 mph in a 45-mph zone.
Right coverage did not include those details, instead concentrating on Rebecca Grossman’s murder conviction, her 15-to-life sentence and the appeals court decision.

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Grossman Receives Verdict

The civil jury deemed Rebecca Grossman and Scott Erickson’s conduct malicious, triggering a punitive-damages phase.
A Los Angeles civil jury awarded the Iskander family $176 million for the deaths of brothers Mark and Jacob.
Jurors noted Grossman was traveling roughly 73 mph in a 45 mph zone when the boys crossed.
Family lawyers called the verdict a reckoning for street-racing and drinking; defense claimed no proof.

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