Jury awards $176m to family of two boys fatally struck by LA socialite’s car
The Guardian • • nation
Key Points:
- A Los Angeles county jury found socialite Rebecca Grossman and former MLB player Scott Erickson negligent in the deaths of two young brothers struck by Grossman's vehicle in Westlake Village in September 2020, awarding $176 million to the victims' family.
- The jury concluded that Grossman and Erickson acted in concert and with malice, allowing for a punitive damages phase; Grossman is already serving 15 years to life for second-degree murder in a related criminal case.
- Testimony revealed that Grossman and Erickson had been drinking and were allegedly street racing before the crash, with Grossman's car hitting the boys at approximately 73 mph, causing fatal injuries.
- The defense denied allegations of racing or impaired driving, attributing the crash partially to obstructed visibility due to trees and parked cars, and argued the city bore responsibility for known safety issues at the crossing.
- The Iskander family’s attorney emphasized that the incident was not an accident but a result of reckless behavior, seeking damages exceeding $430 million.