LA Jury Awards $176M to Families in Fatal Hit-and-Run Case

A jury awarded $176 million to families of brothers killed in 2020 hit-and-run.

On June 3, 2026, a Los Angeles jury delivered a $176 million verdict to the parents of Mark and Jacob Iskander, who were killed in a September 29, 2020, hit-and-run incident in Westlake Village. The driver, Rebecca Grossman, a Southern California socialite, was convicted in February 2024 of two counts each of second-degree murder and gross vehicular manslaughter, as well as hit-and-run resulting in death. She was sentenced in June 2024 to 15 years to life in prison for the deaths.

The incident occurred when Grossman drove at speeds up to 81 mph and struck the two brothers in a crosswalk. The civil trial that began in April 2026 focused on claims that Grossman and her then-lover, former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Scott Erickson, were racing their vehicles and intoxicated at the time. Erickson was initially charged with reckless driving, but that charge was dismissed.

Brian Panish, attorney for the Iskander family, told the court, "They were racing, you are going to hear. At least six people saw it." Deputy District Attorney Jamie Castro stated, "Rebecca Grossman killed these two children, and she committed murder."

This $176 million award is considered one of the largest wrongful death verdicts in California history, underscoring the potential for significant financial liability beyond criminal sentences. For legal professionals, this case highlights how civil litigation can provide another avenue for accountability in high-profile criminal cases involving tort claims.