Jury Orders $21 Million in Punitive Damages for Westlake Village Crash

On September 28-29 2020, a Mercedes SUV driven by Rebecca Grossman struck Mark (11) and Jacob (8) Iskander at a marked crosswalk on Triunfo Canyon Road in Westlake Village. Grossman was convicted in February 2024 of two counts each of second-degree murder and vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, plus a hit-and-run count, and received a sentence of 15 years to life. A panel of the Second District Court of Appeal upheld the conviction in March 2026. The Iskander family filed a civil suit in January 2021 alleging reckless driving, intoxication, and a speed contest involving Grossman and her then-boyfriend, former MLB pitcher Scott Erickson.

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• Rebecca Grossman – Co-founder of the Grossman Burn Foundation, driver of the SUV.

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• Scott Erickson – Former MLB pitcher, alleged passenger and co-defendant.

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• Mark and Jacob Iskander – Victims, brothers aged 11 and 8.

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• Karim and Nancy Iskander – Parents and plaintiffs.

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• Brian Panish – Attorney for the Iskander family.

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• Esther Holm – Defense attorney for Grossman.

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• Royal Oakes – Legal analyst commenting on the trial.

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• Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department – Investigating agency.

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• Compensatory damages awarded in the liability phase: $176 million.

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• Punitive damages: $21 million against Grossman and $1.17 million against Erickson.

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• Total judgment: $198 million.

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• Reported speeds: prosecutors cite 70 mph in a 45-mph zone; plaintiffs allege ?80 mph; Erickson testified 55 mph.

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• Criminal charges: two counts each of second-degree murder, vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, and one count of hit-and-run.

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The Iskander family’s counsel, Brian Panish, argued that punitive damages are necessary to punish reckless conduct and deter similar behavior. Grossman’s defense attorney, Esther Holm, contended that Grossman was not impaired, did not engage in a race, and that punitive awards should not be based on the defendants’ assets. The jury found that “malice” justified punitive damages, noting Grossman’s alleged attempts to conceal financial information. Legal analyst Royal Oakes highlighted the jury’s anger and the role of asset-hiding allegations. The appellate panel affirmed Grossman’s criminal conviction.

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Defense arguments emphasized the lack of concrete evidence of intoxication or a speed contest, labeling the race allegation as “speculation.” Oakes criticized Grossman and her husband for purportedly “trash-talking” the victims’ mother and attempting to hide assets, suggesting that such conduct influenced the punitive award.

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Nancy Iskander testified that she experiences “part of me is simply dead” and “part of my heart is gone,” describing ongoing post-traumatic stress. Karim Iskander recalled his sons’ personalities and expressed gratitude to the jury while acknowledging the family’s continued grief.

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• Speed: Prosecutors (70 mph), plaintiffs (?80 mph), Erickson’s testimony (55 mph).

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• Impairment: Prosecutors allege alcohol consumption; defense denies any impairment.

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• Fleeing the scene: Plaintiffs claim Grossman attempted to flee; defense asserts she stopped immediately.

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• Race: Plaintiffs assert a speed contest; defense calls it speculation.

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• “Today we thank you, and we thank the jury for delivering the punitive damages verdict today and, along with the previous wrongful death verdict,” — Karim and Nancy Iskander

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• “Part of my heart is gone.” — Nancy Iskander

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• “It's not an accident when you speed and you drink and you drive impaired, who would act like that except someone who thinks they can do whatever they want and there's no consequences?” — Brian Panish

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• “She wasn't racing, that's all speculation,” — Esther Holm

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• “Punitive damages could be another phase of this trial,” — Royal Oakes

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• “I heard the roaring engines in two cars, one black, one white, coming towards us.” — Nancy Iskander

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Rebecca Grossman and Scott Erickson have indicated plans to appeal the punitive-damage award. Further litigation may address the defendants’ financial disclosures and the enforceability of the judgment. The case remains under observation as a precedent for punitive damages in vehicular-manslaughter actions.

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