A Los Angeles Superior Court jury on June 5, 2026, awarded $176 million in compensatory damages to Nancy and Karim Iskander, the parents of two young brothers killed in a 2020 crosswalk collision in Westlake Village [1]. The civil action alleged wrongful death and negligence arising from a hit-and-run in which defendant Rebecca Grossman's vehicle struck the children, Mark and Jacob Iskander, as they crossed the street [1]. The case proceeded to the Van Nuys courthouse following Grossman's prior conviction in a separate criminal proceeding [1].
At the close of the compensatory phase, the jury returned the $176 million award in favor of the plaintiffs [1]. Grossman had already been convicted of second-degree murder in the same deaths and sentenced to 15 years to life in prison in the criminal case [1]. The civil trial isolated the tort claims, allowing the Iskanders to pursue independent monetary relief distinct from the criminal accountability already imposed [1].
With the compensatory phase concluded, the jury was set to consider whether to award punitive damages against Grossman in a subsequent phase of the same proceeding [1]. No punitive figure had been determined as of the verdict date. The total damages award accordingly remained open pending that phase [1].
The $176 million compensatory verdict ranks among the largest wrongful death awards in California in 2026 [1]. Because Grossman is serving a state prison sentence, any judgment entered may face collection obstacles, though punitive damages, if awarded, would be added to the compensatory figure to form the final judgment. No post-trial motions or appeal posture had been reported as of the verdict date.