Testimony Continues in Civil Trial for Westlake Village 2020 Crash

Grossman Burn Foundation Co-Founder Convicted in Fatal Crash, Civil Trial Underway

Rebecca Grossman, co-founder of the Grossman Burn Foundation, faces a wrongful death civil trial following her conviction for a crash that claimed the lives of two young brothers in September 2020.

In February 2024, Grossman was found guilty of two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, and one count of hit-and-run. She received a sentence of 15 years to life in prison, having faced a maximum penalty of 34 years.

Testimony resumed Wednesday in the civil trial involving Grossman and former MLB pitcher Scott Erickson, which centers around the tragic deaths of 11-year-old Mark Iskander and 8-year-old Jacob Iskander. So far, the trial has featured testimonies from a crash investigation expert, a detective from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and several witnesses.

During her opening statement, Grossman’s attorney, Esther Holm, asserted that Grossman did not see the boys in the crosswalk and did not attempt to flee the scene. Last week’s proceedings concluded with testimony from former MLB player Royce Clayton, who recalled sharing drinks with Grossman and Erickson before the accident. He outlined his interactions with Erickson following the incident, providing crucial context about the events leading up to the crash.

An ER technician who attempted CPR on one of the boys recounted the traumatic experience, revealing that she required therapy after witnessing the boys’ deaths and hearing their mother, Nancy Iskander, in distress at the hospital.

Grossman initially sought to appeal her criminal conviction; however, her appeal was denied earlier this year. She had raised several issues, including jury instructions and the standards for implied malice, among other points.

In the ongoing civil case, the Iskander family is asking the jury to determine liability and damages against Grossman and Erickson. Prosecutors in the criminal trial contended that Grossman and Erickson had been drinking that evening and were driving towards her residence in separate vehicles when Grossman’s white Mercedes-Benz SUV struck the boys as they crossed Triunfo Canyon Road in a marked crosswalk with their parents. The older brother died at the scene, while the younger sibling passed away at the hospital.

Prosecutors argued that Grossman was driving at 81 mph in a 45-mph zone just before the collision and continued driving until her vehicle halted approximately a quarter-mile from the crash site due to engine failure. Grossman’s legal team claimed that it was Erickson’s vehicle that first struck the boys, although he was never called to testify in the trial.

During her sentencing, Grossman expressed remorse, stating, “I want the boys’ family to know how sorry I am… I will carry this with me until my dying breath.”