The courtroom witnessed intense exchanges on Monday during the punitive phase of the civil wrongful death trial involving Rebecca Grossman and former Dodgers pitcher Scott Erickson. Both were previously found liable for the deaths of two young boys, and the jury had already awarded $176 million. Now, they considered additional financial penalties.
On this day, Dr. Peter Grossman, a well-known plastic surgeon, returned to the witness stand, facing questions from Brian Panish, the attorney representing the family of Mark and Jacob Iskander. Both boys, aged 11 and 8, were struck and killed by Rebecca Grossman in a Westlake Village crosswalk in 2020.
“The pain the Iskanders have had is enormous and there’s no words that are enough. All I can say is that I am very, very sorry,” Dr. Grossman stated.
Panish, persistent in his questioning, asked Dr. Grossman about whether his wife had been drinking and speeding with Erickson when she hit the boys at nearly 73 mph. Rebecca Grossman is currently serving 15 years to life for second-degree murder.
Panish challenged Dr. Grossman on his lack of previous apologies, suggesting he had only expressed regret after the financial judgment was rendered against his wife.
During the trial, jurors heard testimonies that Grossman was racing with Erickson, who was in another SUV, after both consumed drinks at a local cantina. They concluded that Grossman and Erickson acted negligently and with malice, resulting in a $176 million award to the Iskander family. This sum was meant to cover compensatory and emotional distress damages.
Panish directly questioned Dr. Grossman about his wife’s responsibility for the crash. Despite Dr. Grossman’s insistence that his wife’s actions were accidental, Panish pressed him to admit those actions were malicious and influenced by alcohol.
Rebecca Grossman was tested several hours post-collision and registered a blood alcohol level of 0.08, the legal limit in California.
The punitive phase of the trial began after the jury determined actions were malicious. Panish interrogated Dr. Grossman regarding property transactions, suggesting asset shifting to protect wealth from the Iskander family’s claims.
Dr. Grossman was continually reminded by the judge to provide answers based on facts rather than opinion. He acknowledged his wife’s negligence and responsibility but resisted some accusations.
The trial is set to continue, with jury deliberations on punitive damages expected soon.
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