A jury in Los Angeles has awarded nearly $200 million to the parents of Jacob and Mark Iskander following a tragic accident in 2020 that claimed the lives of the two boys. Socialite Rebecca Grossman and former MLB player Scott Erickson were held accountable for their roles in the fatal incident.
On June 10, a court ordered Grossman to pay $21 million in punitive damages, while Erickson was assessed $1.17 million. This information was disclosed in a press release from the Iskander family’s attorneys, which was shared with Oxygen.
This decision was announced just days after jurors had already granted the family $176 million in compensatory damages, pushing the total compensation to nearly $200 million.
What Happened to Jacob and Mark Iskander?
The tragic event took place on September 29, 2020, in Westlake Village, California. Mark, aged 11, and Jacob, aged 8, were crossing the street with their family when they were fatally struck by a vehicle driven by Grossman, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.
The family’s legal team detailed in their statement, “As Grossman and Erickson’s vehicles approached the crosswalk at high speed, Erickson sped through the intersection. Nancy Iskander managed to pull her youngest son to safety, but Mark and Jacob, who were just behind, were struck and killed by Grossman’s vehicle.”
According to the Los Angeles Times, witnesses testified that prior to the crash, Grossman and Erickson had been drinking at a local restaurant, before getting into separate vehicles and heading to Grossman’s house.
The family’s attorney argued to the civil jury that the pair allegedly had a “speeding contest” as they drove, per KTLA.
Grossman and Erickson Deny Allegations Against Them
Grossman and Erickson’s attorneys, meanwhile, denied claims that the two had been racing or impaired while driving. Erickson himself testified that he “swerved to avoid” the family and also denied they were racing, per the news release.
“This case was about choices—dangerous, reckless, and selfish choices that cost two young boys their lives,” Iskander family attorney Brian Panish said in a statement obtained by Oxygen. “The evidence showed exactly what happened: excessive speed, disregard for the rules of the road, and a complete failure to protect human life. The jury held both defendants accountable for the devastating consequences of those choices.”
“Mark and Jacob were doing everything right. They were in a crosswalk, with their family. They should have made it home safely that night,” he continued. “This verdict sends a clear message that everyone must be held accountable when their selfish actions put innocent lives at risk.”
The civil verdict comes more than two years after Grossman was convicted in criminal court in connection to the same fatal crash. She was found guilty of two felony counts of murder, two felony counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, and one felony count of hit-and-run driving resulting in death, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office shared in a news release.
Grossman appealed her conviction, but California’s Second Appellate District upheld the decision in March 2026. She is currently serving a sentence of 15 years to life in prison.