wrongful death – A former MLB player testified in Rebecca Grossman’s civil trial about a fatal crosswalk crash involving two boys.
A former Dodgers player told jurors he learned that Rebecca Grossman fatally struck two boys in a Westlake Village crosswalk, describing what he says he was told moments after the crash.
The testimony came during Grossman’s wrongful death civil trial. where Royce Clayton took the stand and recounted a conversation he says his longtime friend. former MLB pitcher Scott Erickson. had with him.. Clayton told the court that Erickson said he saw the boys hit while Grossman’s car was closely following him at what he described as a high rate of speed.
Clayton’s account, delivered with visible emotion, is being used by the Iskander family to support their claim that Grossman and Erickson were legally responsible for the boys’ deaths.
The case centers on the evening of Sept.. 29, 2020, when Nancy Iskander was crossing a street with her sons, including Jacob and Mark Iskander.. Testimony described how the youngest child was pulled out of the way. but Jacob and Mark were struck in the crosswalk and seriously injured.. The lawsuit alleges the parties were driving recklessly and that their actions contributed to the fatalities.
On the stand, Clayton also described the events leading up to the crash.. He testified that he. Grossman. and Erickson had been at a restaurant and had margaritas before they set out toward Grossman’s home to watch a presidential debate.. He said Erickson later told him they were “flying down” a roadway and had to swerve after seeing children in the crosswalk.
In this context, the trial is not just about what happened in a single moment on a street, but about competing interpretations of speed, visibility, and responsibility.
Clayton told jurors that Erickson called him after the collision and reported that he reached Grossman’s home. then returned to the scene.. Clayton said he went by the crash location as well and described seeing Grossman’s damaged vehicle and Grossman seated on the curb.. He also testified that he encouraged Erickson to seek an attorney after what he had witnessed.
Clayton acknowledged the details of how Erickson characterized the driving, including references to how quickly the vehicles were traveling.. Under questioning. he responded in a way that suggested the emphasis should be on what Erickson reported seeing rather than the exact wording used to describe the speed.
The stakes of testimony like this are significant: in wrongful death cases, jurors must weigh memory, timing, and credibility to decide whether the civil claims can be proven.
Grossman is currently serving a prison sentence after a criminal conviction related to the incident. The civil trial continues as the Iskander family pursues claims against Grossman and Erickson for the deaths of Jacob and Mark.