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Justice for Boys: $20M Awarded in Fatal Hit-and-Run
11 Jun
Summary
- Jury ordered $20M+ in punitive damages for two boys' deaths.
- Rebecca Grossman and Scott Erickson found liable for fatal crash.
- Grossman sentenced to 15 years to life for double murder conviction.
In a significant legal development, a Los Angeles jury has mandated that Rebecca Grossman and former baseball player Scott Erickson pay more than $20 million in punitive damages. This ruling stems from a tragic 2020 hit-and-run accident in Westlake Village, California, which resulted in the deaths of brothers Mark and Jacob Iskander, aged 11 and 8. The jury found both Grossman and Erickson liable for the fatal incident.
Grossman was ordered to pay $21 million, while Erickson was directed to pay an additional $1.17 million. These punitive damages add to a previous award of $176 million in compensatory damages for wrongful death and emotional distress. The total financial judgment against both defendants now exceeds $198 million. The jury's decision to impose punitive damages was based on a finding of malice from both parties.
Further legal repercussions have befallen Grossman. In February 2024, she was convicted of double murder, a verdict upheld by a California appellate court in March 2024. She received a sentence of 15 years to life in prison. Prosecutors stated Grossman drove at speeds up to 81 mph on a residential street after drinking. Erickson faced charges of reckless driving, which were later dismissed.
