A sad incident happened late evening, September 29, 2020, near Westlake Village in California. While crossing the street legally with their mom and dad, two brothers – Mark Iskander, aged eleven, along with his younger brother Jacob, just eight – got hit by a speeding car; both passed away right then. Behind the wheel sat Rebecca Grossman – a figure recognized for charity work, also tied closely to the Grossman Burn Center as a leading donor.
The whole thing started as a long, messy courtroom fight mixing criminal charges, private lawsuits, sworn statements, court challenges, plus nonstop news attention. This piece walks through the major moments, breaks down the different legal snags, then lays out a clear path showing how everything unfolded – all the way to right now.
1. The Incident and Criminal Case
A.The Crash
The news says Mark and Jacob’s family stood near a painted crosswalk when Rebecca Grossman’s Mercedes SUV struck them. Reports from vcstar.com and the South China Morning Post mention prosecutors claiming Grossman raced another vehicle driven by ex-MLB player Scott Erickson, speeding up to 81 mph in an area limited to 45. South China Morning Post plus vcstar.com covered the details
B.The Charges and Conviction
The jury decided Grossman did it, back in February 2024, number five on the list.
The murder of each brother, classified as second-degree
A two-car accident caused by serious recklessness
Plus, a count of hit-and-run causing death AP News+2South China Morning Post+2
Later that year, in June 2024, she got locked up for 15 years to life. lacounty.gov+1
C. Public and Legal Reaction
The choice stirred up intense responses from different sides. Some folks following the case believed the punishment didn’t match how serious the offense was – The Sun+1. Meanwhile, Grossman’s legal team claimed she wasn’t at fault, shifting responsibility onto her ex-boyfriend, Erickson, instead – South China Morning Post+1.
2. The Civil Lawsuit and Depositions
A court case about a person dying because of what someone else did
In early 2021, Karim Iskander and his wife Nancy – parents of Mark and Jacob – took legal action against Rebecca Grossman due to deadly harm, including Scott Erickson, in the filing at Van Nuys’ Superior Court, along with their son Zachary.
B.Depositions and Litigation Steps
The court stated Grossman’s deposition is set for September 3, 2025, no matter the current appeal process in the related criminal case. Yahoo
Still, when she’s up there testifying, she could mention old clashes with police, the wreck, and also how things went down that day – just won’t dive in deep until later talks. Yahoo
A hearing set for past December 1, 2025, might show if Grossman keeps silent – a right backed by the Fifth Amendment. Yahoo
In the latest updates from November 6, 2025, the Iskander household was asked to record a testimony
C.Financial Discovery
In October 2025, word got around that the court shot down Scott Erickson’s bid to keep the Iskander family from uncovering his finances while assessing compensation. South China Morning Post
Current Status of the Case
Rebecca Grossman’s still locked up, doing 15-to-life. Her legal challenges? They’re ongoing – no end yet. vcstar.com
Her appeals are still in the process. vcstar.com
The civil court case is scheduled to start on January 5, 2026 – though that might shift later. Yahoo minus one.
Some depositions are getting scheduled while others face pushback, yet plenty of courtroom fights lie ahead on questions about limits, confidentiality, plus exact specifics.
The Iskander bunch wants the blame sorted out alongside cash compensation, meaning every dollar gets laid bare somehow.
4. Why This Case Matters
A.Accountability and Privilege
The Grossman incident got courts wondering – how does the law respond when someone wealthy and powerful ends up killing another in a clearly risky scenario? Roberts pushes back by calling it more than just reckless driving followed by fleeing; they’re treating it like full-on murder.
B.Speed, Drinking & Street-Racing
Prosecutors say Grossman wasn’t just speeding when the crash happened – he was actually competing with Erickson, pushing his car far past legal limits. On top of that, the collision went down right on a pedestrian strip where lots of young people walk every day. When you stack high velocity, lack of focus, clear crossing signs, plus nearby children, things turn extremely dangerous – so prosecutors upgraded the charges.
C.Civil vs. Criminal Justice
The civil route remains open despite the guilty verdict and jail time, with the Iskander family now seeking compensation for loss and harm. Because criminal rulings mix with civil evidence gathering, witness statements, and money probes, this isn’t merely about crime – instead, it unfolds as a tangled legal effort to recover what was lost.
D.Emotional & Human Impact
Young kids got hurt. Their loved ones are dealing with heavy grief. This event proves how one reckless choice – like speeding through a crowded walkway – can alter countless lives in an instant.
5 Step-by-Step Instructions for Major “Next Moves”
If you’ve kept up with this situation – or ones like it – here’s a straightforward look at what to watch for:
Criminal Appeals:
The lawyer team working for Grossman might file motions asking for a retrial, prepare documents to challenge the verdict, or seek a delay in carrying out the punishment.
Watch what the appeals court decides – it might lower the punishment or flip the guilty verdicts.
Civil Discovery & Depositions:
The giving of sworn statements – by Grossman, their partner, or kid – might reveal what really happened, along with any admissions slipped out and the strategies currently at play.
Looking through papers and financial info about both sides will show how big the disagreement really is.
Keep an eye on how the judges handle question boundaries – say, stuff they wouldn’t let anyone ask Grossman.
Pre-Trial Motions in Civil Case:
Motion asking for a quick decision, request to move the case elsewhere, attempt to block certain proof, also push to limit witness statements.
Grossman asked to move the trial, while pushing to reduce Erickson’s legal risk or get charges dropped.
Civil Trial (January 2026):
The trial will focus on who’s at fault for the crash – along with how much money the Iskanders might recover.
One example includes crash reports also expert views, plus what people saw, along with sworn testimonies.
The jury might reach a verdict – after that, someone could challenge it in court.
Post-Trial & Enforcement:
If things go the Iskanders’ way, next comes gathering details – like how much money Grossman or Erickson actually has, what their insurance might cover, also if there are belongings that could be taken.
This process could go on for many years – when big amounts of cash are involved, things usually drag out. While it might seem quick at first, delays pile up once legal steps begin. Because courts move slowly, especially under heavy loads, each phase adds more waiting. Though some hope for fast results, reality tends to stretch timelines much further.
6. Anecdotes & Human Touch
During the trial, a key moment came when Grossman wrote to the judge, stating, “The hurt I feel, along with recognizing what the Iskanders endure… counts as punishment I’m facing now and will keep feeling forever.” Per the South China Morning Post, this note seemed like an attempt to show regret – still, plenty of folks felt it fell short.
The siblings reportedly showed up at the accident spot on foot, crossing with mom and little brother in tow – then just like that, everything stopped. That detail stuck around through court, painting a sharp picture central to how things unfolded.
The car’s black box showed speed dipping a bit right before impact – though still way too fast for a neighborhood street. Something prosecutors made sure to mention.
On the civil front, Grossman’s legal team argued the daughter shouldn’t face questioning due to PTSD – yet the Iskander family countered that she’d already given testimony and stated she knew key details about the accident, plus what followed. MyNewsLA.com
7. Key Terms and Trustworthy LiHere are
Here are a few key ideas or phrases – though you’ve not seen them yourself, it’s smart to note them down later:
A wrongful death suit happens when someone passes away because of another’s carelessness – the family steps in to seek justice through court action instead of just accepting what occurred without response.
Second-degree murder means someone was killed without planning – that’s different from first-degree, which needs intent. Check out how California defines it for specifics.
Vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence – this label hits someone behind the wheel whose wild driving ends up taking a life, not on purpose but through sheer carelessness.
Driving off after a fatal crash – leaving the spot where someone lost their life.
Figuring out what’s known + getting witness statements – steps in a court case where both sides check facts and question the other side’s people before going to trial.
Fifth Amendment right to stay quiet – a rule that keeps people from being forced to say things that could hurt their case while in court.
A switch-of-place request happens if the person accused asks to move the case somewhere else – maybe due to public opinion making a fair trial tough. The judge might agree if emotions are too high or local news made things messy. Location shifts aren’t automatic; they need solid reasons like threats to fairness. Sometimes, moving the trial helps ensure jurors can listen without bias from rumors or headlines.
8. Takeaways
The Grossman incident shows how fast driving, being under the influence, yet hitting someone walking, can lead to big trouble with the law.
Plus, it highlights how civil lawsuits usually come after criminal ones – particularly when there’s been a death or big money involved.
It shows how tough it is to handle famous people, cash matters, also responsibility under the law when everything’s out in the open.
Grossman’s behind bars, yet the civil route remains available. The coming months could make or break the Iskander family’s money and legal standing.
At last, what happened here hits hard – two kids lost, a household torn apart – yet courts aim to bring answers along with some form of payback.
