A California civil jury on Wednesday awarded $176 million in compensatory damages to the Iskander family after a hit‑and‑run crash in September 2020 killed brothers Mark, 11, and Jacob, 8. The verdict follows criminal convictions of Rebecca Grossman, a convicted child killer, and her former lover, former MLB pitcher Scott Erickson, for sceond‑degree murder and vehicular manslaughter.

The $14 million loss‑of‑companionship award to the Iskander parents

The jury allocated $14 million to Nancy and Karim Iskander for the loss of their sons’ love and companionship, a statutory measure used in wrongful‑death cases. According to the trial record, the amount reflects both the immediate void left by the boys’ deaths and the projected future interactions that will never occur.

Emotional‑distress payouts total $41 million for Nancy and Zachary Iskander

Nancy Iskander received $10 million for severe emotional distress already suffered and $25 million for anticipated future distress, while her surviving son Zachary was granted $6 million for past and $28 million for future emotional trauma. The figures were calculated based on expert testimony about the long‑term psychological impact of losing siblings in such a violent manner.

Grossman and Erickson found to have acted with malice, opennig the door to punitive damages

Jurors answered “yes” to special‑verdict questions indicating that both defendants acted with malice or oppression, meaning they now face separate punitive damages. As the source reported, the punitive phase will consider the defendants’ financial resources before setting the final punishment amuont.

Defendants’ offers and the gap to the Iskanders’ $439 million claim

Rebecca Grossman’s attorney Esther Holm said her client, who is serving a 15‑year‑to‑life sentence, would pay “reasonable damages” without specifying a figure, while Erickson’s lawyer Jeff Braun offered $10 million. The Iskanders originally sought $439 million, highlighting a stark disparity between the families’ expectations and the current award.

Unresolved questions about punitive totals and asset recoevry

The jury has yet to determine the punitive damages that could dramatically increase the total payout, and it remains unclear how much of Grossman’s and Erickson’s assets are actually recoverable given their legal and financial histories. As the source noted, Erickson previously lied about his alcohol consumption and provided the wrong vehicle for inspection , complicating the asset‑tracing process.

According to the court filings, the Westlake Village crosswalk where the crash occurred was deemed safe, rejecting Grossman’s claim that the crossing contributed to the tragedy. The Iskanders’ attorney Brian Panish told the Daily Mail, “We’re not done yet – there’s more work to be done,” underscoring that the civil battle is far from over.