Surgeon Responds Heatedly to Inquiries About Socialite Wife’s Involvement in Fatal Incident

A renowned plastic surgeon found himself in the throes of anger during a legal interrogation concerning a tragic incident involving his wife. The socialite, Rebecca Grossman, was involved in a devastating hit-and-run accident that claimed the lives of two young boys, Mark and Jacob Iskander, aged 11 and 8, respectively. The accident was fueled by alcohol, adding to the gravity of the situation.

Dr. Peter Grossman faced intense questioning on Monday from attorneys representing the Iskander family, who are pursuing a civil wrongful death lawsuit. The legal proceedings saw Grossman being probed over details concerning his financial status and his wife’s culpability in the tragic deaths.

In a recent court decision, Rebecca Grossman, along with her former partner, ex-baseball player Scott Erickson, was ordered to pay a hefty sum of $176 million to the victims’ family. As the jury deliberates on possible additional penalties, the tension surrounding the case remains high.

During Monday’s testimony, Brian Panish, the lawyer representing the Iskander family, directed pointed questions at Peter Grossman. The line of inquiry focused on the couple’s wealth and Rebecca Grossman’s role in the fatal incident. According to a report by the LA Times, the session escalated when Peter Grossman responded in what was described as a ‘furious tone,’ underscoring the emotional strain of the proceedings.

At one point the LA Times reported that Peter responded in what the outlet described as a ‘furious tone’ at Panish. 

Panish had asked Peter to apologize for his wife’s speeding, drunk driving and killing of the boys to the jury – which he did. Rebecca Grossman has always denied murder and deployed a host of excuses for the boys’ deaths. 

Seizing on that admission, Panish continued: ‘So you get it she was driving under the influence, killed the kids and tried to flee?’ 

In response Peter angrily said: ‘That’s not what you just said’. His wife’s car only stopped a third of a mile away from the crash site after the Mercedes’ safety system shut the vehicle down due to being so badly damaged.

Peter Grossman, seen here entering court in February of this year, was grilled on Monday by an attorney for the family of the two boys

Grossman, seen here, was sentenced in 2024 to 15 years to life in prison after being convicted of second-degree murder, gross vehicular manslaughter and hit-and-run driving

Grossman’s speeding SUV collided with both children, fatally injuring them, at a pedestrian crossing in Westlake Village, near Los Angeles, in September 2020, after she and Erickson both drank margaritas at a local bar. 

The children were crossing the street with their family when the crash occurred, with attorneys for the boys’ parents saying the pair’s vehicles reached speeds of up to 80 mph. 

Grossman was sentenced in 2024 to 15 years to life in prison after being convicted of second-degree murder, gross vehicular manslaughter and hit-and-run driving in a separate criminal trial. She was separated from Peter at the time but he stood by her throughout her trial and continues to do so. 

Erickson was only charged with misdemeanor reckless driving and that was dismissed after he made a public service announcement on the importance of safe driving. 

Peter was also grilled on Monday about property transfers involving homes in Texas and Georgia tied to him and his wife, as well as their Hidden Hills home. 

Panish played prison phone recordings to the court that suggested they were attempting to move their assets to their children to potentially save them from financial ruin, the Times reported. 

The jury of eight women and four men deliberated for two days before reaching their verdict awarding the compensatory damages to the dead boys’ parents, Karim and Nancy, and their third son Zachary, who was five when he narrowly escaped death or serious injury in the same crash.

The total $176 million figure comprises $14 million to the parents for the loss of Mark and Jacob’s ‘love and companionship’ since the fatal crash and $93 million for the loss of their boys’ love and companionship in the future.

Mark, 11, and Jacob, 8, were crossing the street with their family when the crash occurred

Karim and Nancy Iskander were awarded $176 million by a jury last week as part of the civil trial

Grossman and Erickson were photographed attending a fundraising event in 2020 shortly before the accident

Nancy Iskander was awarded $10 million for her ‘severe emotional distress’ since the accident and $25 million for her future emotional distress. The jury said brother Zachary should receive $6 million for past and $28 million for future serious emotional distress.

In response to the Iskanders’ original claim for a total of $439 million in compensatory damages, Grossman’s attorney said that her imprisoned client would be willing to pay ‘reasonable damages’ without specifying an amount. Erickson’s lawyer offered a payout of $10 million.

Jurors determined that Erickson was ‘negligent’ and that his negligence was a ’substantial factor’ in the deaths of the boys. Judge Huey Cotton, presiding in the case, already ruled in a directed verdict that Grossman was negligent.

The jury also decided that Grossman and Erickson ‘acted in concert’ leading up to the deadly crash.