A California jury has found Rebecca Grossman and former Major League Baseball pitcher Scott Erickson liable in the deaths of two young brothers, Mark Iskander, 11, and Jacob Iskander, 8. In June 2026, the jury awarded the boys' family $176 million in damages, marking a significant development in a case that has garnered widespread attention for nearly six years.
The Incident and the Trial
The tragedy dates back to September 2020, when Grossman and Erickson left a restaurant in Westlake Village, California, driving separate vehicles. According to the Los Angeles Times, authorities reported that Grossman struck the two boys as they crossed the street with their mother and younger brother. Prosecutors alleged that Grossman was driving at speeds up to 81 mph in a 45 mph zone.
During the civil trial in May 2026, the boys' mother, Nancy Iskander, testified about the harrowing moments after the crash. As reported by the Los Angeles Times, she stated: "The white car passed exactly where Mark and Jacob were, and then I looked back and didn't find them, and I started screaming. I went down the road, and I saw Mark; he had blood coming out of his mouth, and his shoes weren't on him. I could tell he was all broken, and I could tell he died. … I just knew, I don't know how, as a mother."
NBC 4 Los Angeles reported that Jacob was wearing skates and Mark was riding a skateboard when they were struck.
Criminal and Civil Outcomes
Grossman was charged in December 2020 and, in February 2024, was found guilty of two counts of murder, two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter, and one count of hit-and-run driving resulting in death, according to The New York Times. She was subsequently sentenced to prison. Erickson, on the other hand, was initially charged with reckless driving, but that charge was later dismissed, according to his attorney Mark Werksman, as reported by The New York Times.
Despite the lack of a criminal conviction for Erickson, the civil jury in June 2026 found both Grossman and Erickson liable for the deaths, awarding $176 million in damages to the Iskander family.
