Deliberations Underway in Civil Lawsuit Against Rebecca Grossman and Scott Erickson for Fatal Collision
Jurors are deliberating a civil lawsuit against socialite Rebecca Grossman and former baseball player Scott Erickson, filed by the family of Mark and Jacob Iskander, who were killed in a tragic collision in 2020. The lawsuit alleges that Grossman and Erickson were involved in a high-speed street race that resulted in the boys' deaths. Grossman's husband, Dr. Peter Grossman, who owned the vehicle she was driving, is also named as a defendant in the case.
Rebecca Grossman is currently serving a prison sentence for her criminal conviction related to the incident. During the civil trial, the defense teams disputed the claims of a street race, with Grossman's attorney arguing that she was not racing and was distracted before the collision. The jury must determine whether the high-speed driving constituted a coordinated "speed contest" and assess Erickson's level of fault in the incident.
Plaintiff attorney Brian Panish made an emotional appeal during closing arguments, highlighting the defendants' alleged reckless behavior. He emphasized that Grossman's blood-alcohol level was likely above the legal limit at the time of the crash and criticized her lack of accountability. The defense attorneys for Grossman and Erickson presented their arguments, with Erickson's attorney acknowledging his client's credibility issues but denying his direct involvement in a race.
The jury will continue deliberating to determine the outcome of the case, considering conflicting testimonies and evidence presented during the trial. If the panel finds that Grossman and Erickson acted recklessly, they may be liable for punitive damages in addition to compensatory awards for the Iskander family's losses.