A Los Angeles jury has awarded $176 million to the mother and father of two young brothers killed in a hit-and-run collision when a California socialite’s car struck them in a crosswalk almost six years in the past.
The jury discovered each Rebecca Grossman and Scott Erickson, a former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher, negligent within the deaths of 11-year-old Mark Iskander and 8-year-old Jacob Iskander.
The damages awarded Wednesday have been for wrongful demise and emotional misery. The trial decide will finally decide how a lot every defendant has to pay.
Court was scheduled to renew Friday as jurors should nonetheless resolve whether or not to award punitive damages to the boys’ mother and father, Nancy and Karim Iskander.
Grossman was sentenced in 2024 to serve 15 years to life in prison after being convicted of second-degree homicide, gross vehicular manslaughter and hit-and-run driving in a separate legal trial. She is a co-founder of the Grossman Burn Foundation and the spouse of a outstanding burn physician.
The boys’ mother and father additionally filed lawsuits in civil court docket towards each Grossman and Erickson, who was driving forward of her when the Iskander brothers have been killed. That trial started in April.
The lethal crash occurred on the night of Sept. 29, 2020, in Westlake Village, a metropolis on the western edge of Los Angeles County.
Brian Panish, the Iskander household’s lawyer, argued that Grossman and Erickson have been each driving recklessly after consuming margaritas collectively. The two have been courting at a time when Grossman and her husband have been separated.
Panish stated Grossman was driving 73 mph (117 kph) when her car struck the boys in a crosswalk on a street the place the posted pace restrict was 45 mph (72 kph).
He stated Grossman was following Erickson, who was additionally rushing and narrowly missed the household.
“This was a totally preventable collision,” Panish advised the jury in closing arguments Wednesday. “They went out for a walk and they never came home.”
Grossman’s lawyer, Esther Holm, denied that her consumer was intoxicated. She stated Grossman was distracted when she noticed the boys’ mom dive out of the way in which of Erickson’s car.
“Ms. Grossman was not driving impaired,” Holm advised the jury. “She did not see the children, as her attention was diverted by Ms. Iskander.”
Erickson’s lawyer, Jeff Braun, referred to as the boys’ deaths a tragedy however emphasised that the car he was driving “made no contact with the children.”