Opening statements have officially begun in the high-stakes civil trial against socialite Rebecca Grossman and former Dodgers pitcher Scott Erickson. While Grossman is already serving 15 years to life for the 2020 deaths of Mark and Jacob Iskander, the family is now pursuing a "day of reckoning" in civil court, seeking tens of millions in damages to hold both drivers financially accountable.
The plaintiff's lead attorney, Brian Panish, wasted no time painting a picture of reckless disregard for life.
He argued that Grossman and Erickson were "racing" their SUVs through a Westlake Village crosswalk at speeds reaching 81 mph.
While Erickson previously escaped criminal charges through a public service announcement deal, this civil trial puts him back in the crosshairs.
The Iskander family alleges his involvement was a direct cause of their sons' deaths, maintaining that he was the "first SUV" they had to dodge before Grossman’s vehicle struck the boys.
The most chilling moment of the opening session came when the jury was shown evidence from Grossman’s initial medical evaluation following the crash.
While taking a blood-alcohol test, Grossman reportedly told doctors: "If the Mercedes device hadn’t worked, I’d be now in bed."
The plaintiff argued this "live" exhibit proves Grossman was more concerned with her own convenience and the mechanical intervention of her car's safety features than the lives she had just extinguished.
The civil trial is also putting Scott Erickson back in the hot seat. The Iskander family’s legal team is doubling down on accusations that the pair were "racing" their high-powered SUVs through the Westlake Village crosswalk at speeds of up to 81 mph.
This is a developing story.