A Los Angeles County jury awarded the Iskander family $176 million on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, after finding that Rebecca Grossman and former Major League Baseball pitcher Scott Erickson were responsible for the deaths of two young brothers struck in a marked crosswalk. The civil jury in Van Nuys found that Grossman and Erickson were negligent in the wrongful death case, that they acted in concert in the events leading to the fatal collision, and that all three defendants acted with malice. Lead plaintiff counsel Brian Panish of Panish Shea Ravipudi LLP tried the case for parents Nancy and Karim Iskander. The malice finding opens a punitive damages phase, which began the following day.
Case at a Glance
- Verdict: $176,000,000 (compensatory; punitive phase pending)
- Case Type: Wrongful death / pedestrian collision
- Court: Los Angeles County Superior Court, Van Nuys (Judge Huey Cotton presiding)
- Verdict Date: June 3, 2026
- Plaintiffs: Nancy Iskander, Karim Iskander, and Zachary Iskander
- Defendants: Rebecca Grossman, Scott Erickson, and Dr. Peter Grossman
- Plaintiff Attorney: Brian Panish, Panish Shea Ravipudi LLP
What Did the Jury Award?
The jury returned $176 million in compensatory damages, allocated across the family's losses. The award included $59 million for the death of 11-year-old Mark Iskander and $48 million for the death of 8-year-old Jacob Iskander. The panel added $35 million for the serious emotional distress suffered by their mother, Nancy Iskander, and $34 million for the emotional distress of her surviving son, Zachary.
The two brothers were killed on September 29, 2020, while crossing Triunfo Canyon Road in Westlake Village with their family. Court evidence indicated the vehicle was traveling at roughly 80 mph in a 45 mph zone when it struck the boys in a marked crosswalk.
Why Were Both Drivers Found Liable?
The plaintiff's case centered on the theory that Grossman and Erickson were racing each other in separate vehicles before the crash. The family's attorneys argued the two had been drinking that night and were engaged in a speeding contest as they headed toward Grossman's home.
The jury found that the defendants acted in concert in the conduct that led to the collision, a finding that allowed liability to attach to both drivers rather than to Grossman alone. Erickson, a former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher, did not face criminal charges arising from the crash.
Jurors also found Dr. Peter Grossman liable as the owner of the Mercedes-Benz SUV that struck the children. Under California's permissive-use rules, an owner who allows another person to drive a vehicle can be held responsible for resulting harm, and the jury found that Dr. Grossman had given Rebecca Grossman permission to drive.
What Happens in the Punitive Damages Phase?
Beyond the $176 million in compensatory damages, the jury found that all three defendants acted with malice. In California verdict news terms, that finding is the gateway to punitive damages, which are intended to punish conduct a jury views as especially reckless or wrongful and to deter similar behavior.
With malice established, the case moved into a second phase in which the same jury weighs whether to add punitive damages on top of the compensatory award. That phase began the day after the compensatory verdict was read.
In closing, Panish framed the conduct for the jury. "It's not an accident when you speed and you drink and you drive impaired," he argued. "Who would act like that except someone who thinks they can do whatever they want and there's no consequences?"
A Civil Verdict After a Criminal Conviction
The civil trial followed Grossman's criminal case. In February 2024, she was convicted of two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, and one count of hit-and-run, and was sentenced to 15 years to life in state prison. A criminal conviction and a civil verdict are separate proceedings with different burdens of proof, and the civil case was the family's path to holding all of the responsible parties financially accountable. Major Verdict tracks similar wrongful death verdicts and settlements across the country.
For the Iskander family, the verdict represents a measure of accountability nearly six years after the deaths of Mark and Jacob. The punitive damages phase will determine the final figure.
If you or someone you love has lost a family member in a preventable crash, verdicts like this one show what a prepared trial team can achieve when the evidence is strong. Find a plaintiff lawyer on Major Verdict who has the trial record to back it up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does it mean that the jury found the defendants "acted with malice"?
In California civil law, a finding of malice means the jury concluded the defendant's conduct was so reckless or wrongful that it went beyond ordinary negligence. That finding is what allows a case to proceed to a punitive damages phase, where the jury can award additional money meant to punish the conduct and deter others, separate from the compensatory damages that cover the family's losses.
Q: How can a vehicle's owner be held liable when they were not driving?
California's permissive-use law allows an injured party to hold a vehicle owner responsible when the owner gave another person permission to drive and that person caused harm. In this case, the jury found Dr. Peter Grossman liable as the owner of the SUV because he had permitted Rebecca Grossman to drive it.
Q: Why was there a civil verdict if Rebecca Grossman was already convicted in criminal court?
A criminal conviction and a civil verdict are distinct. A criminal case is brought by the state and can result in imprisonment, while a civil wrongful death case is brought by the family to recover financial damages. The civil trial also allowed the family to pursue additional defendants, including Scott Erickson and Dr. Peter Grossman, who were not part of the criminal proceeding.
NOT FOR REPRINT
© 2026 Major Verdict, LLC. All rights reserved. For more information visit our reuse and editorial standards information.
