In a critical phase of the civil wrongful death trial, Dr. Peter Grossman faced intense questioning regarding his wife's role in the deaths of two young boys, as a jury considers punitive damages. Rebecca Grossman and her former partner, Scott Erickson, have already been held liable for the fatalities, with an initial award of $176 million granted to the victims' family.
Dr. Peter Grossman, husband of Rebecca Grossman and co-founder of the Grossman Burn Foundation, testified for a second day. He was questioned extensively by Brian Panish, an attorney representing the family of Mark and Jacob Iskander, aged 11 and 8, who were killed in 2020. Panish pressed Dr. Grossman on his wife's alleged intoxication and excessive speed at the time of the collision. Rebecca Grossman is currently serving a sentence of 15 years to life for second-degree murder convictions related to the incident.
During the proceedings, Dr. Grossman offered an apology to the Iskander family for their suffering. However, Panish challenged the timing and sincerity of the apology, noting it came after the jury had already determined liability and awarded significant compensatory damages. Dr. Grossman admitted his wife was "involved accidentally in the death of these children," but resisted Panish's direct question as to whether he admitted his wife "killed those two boys."
Jurors in the eight-week wrongful death trial heard testimony that Rebecca Grossman was speeding and closely following Scott Erickson's vehicle after they had consumed alcohol. Experts testified that her Mercedes SUV was traveling at approximately 73 mph in a 45-mph zone. The jury concluded that both Rebecca Grossman and Erickson acted with malice and in concert, leading to the fatal crash. The $176 million awarded to the Iskander parents and their surviving son was split between Rebecca Grossman and Erickson.
Panish also scrutinized Dr. Grossman regarding his wife's actions, including drinking and driving. While Dr. Grossman maintained that characterizations of his wife driving drunk and racing were inaccurate, his blood alcohol level at the time of testing, several hours after the collision, registered at 0.08%, the legal limit in California. The attorney questioned Dr. Grossman about his awareness of his wife's speeding, drinking, and the deaths of the children, to which Dr. Grossman eventually responded "Yes" after being directed by the judge.
The punitive phase of the civil trial, which began on Thursday, focuses on punishing Grossman and Erickson and sending a message about their conduct. Panish has questioned the defendants about potential asset transfers designed to shield wealth from the Iskander family. This includes property transfers and loans, with prison phone recordings suggesting efforts to move assets to their children. Dr. Grossman also had a contentious exchange regarding a derogatory comment he made about Nancy Iskander, captured on a recorded prison call.
