Rebecca Grossman, ex-Dodger found negligent in 2 brothers' deaths; must pay $176M in damages
ABC7 Los Angeles • • nation
Key Points:
- A jury found socialite Rebecca Grossman and former Dodger Scott Erickson negligent in the 2020 deaths of two young brothers hit by Grossman's vehicle in Westlake Village, awarding $176 million in damages to the victims' family.
- The jury determined Grossman and Erickson acted with malice, potentially leading to a punitive damages phase for additional penalties.
- The $176 million damages also apply to Grossman's husband, Dr. Peter Grossman, who owned the car and permitted Rebecca Grossman to drive it; how the damages will be divided among the three defendants remains unclear.
- The civil suit alleges Grossman and Erickson engaged in a speed contest while intoxicated before Grossman struck the children at about 80 mph in a 45 mph zone.
- In a separate criminal trial, Grossman was found guilty of second-degree murder, vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, and hit-and-run, receiving a 15 years to life prison sentence; Erickson faced no criminal charges.