Former Major League Baseball star Scott Erickson is attempting to prevent displays of emotion in a Los Angeles courtroom ahead of a civil trial concerning the deaths of two young boys, a case in which he and his convicted former lover are defendants.
Motion to Limit Courtroom Emotion and Evidence
In legal filings obtained by the Daily Mail, the 57-year-old ex-pitcher argues that jurors will be unfairly swayed if the boys' parents, Nancy or Karim Iskander, break down while evidence is presented. The case stems from a September 2020 incident in Westlake Village, Los Angeles, where the Iskanders' sons, 11-year-old Mark and eight-year-old Jacob, were struck and killed at a pedestrian crossing.
Erickson's legal team has asked Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Huey Cotton to prohibit what they term "emotional outbursts or other inflammatory conduct." The motion specifically seeks to bar "audible sobbing, yelling, accusatory statements, visible displays intended to evoke sympathy, demonstrative gestures toward jurors or counsel, and any similar conduct."
On the same grounds, Erickson—who won the World Series with the Minnesota Twins—also wants to block jurors from seeing graphic photographs of the boys at the crash scene. His filing states such conduct and evidence "risks undue prejudice" and could confuse the issues at hand.
Background of the Fatal Crash and Criminal Conviction
The civil wrongful death lawsuit alleges that Erickson and socialite Rebecca Grossman, 62, were racing their luxury vehicles at high speed moments before Grossman's white Mercedes fatally struck the two brothers as they crossed the street with their family.
In a separate criminal trial concluded in February 2024, Grossman—who is married to renowned plastic surgeon Dr. Peter Grossman—was found guilty of second-degree murder, vehicular manslaughter, and hit-and-run charges. She was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison. During that trial, her defence attorneys attempted to shift blame onto Erickson, claiming the pair had shared cocktails before allegedly racing on the street.
Despite the allegations, Erickson faced only a misdemeanour reckless driving charge for his role in the incident. In February 2022, he received what many considered a lenient penalty: an order to make a public service announcement about safe driving.
A Wide Range of Evidence Under Dispute
As the civil trial date of January 5 approaches, Erickson's motion seeks to exclude a broad array of potentially damaging testimony and evidence. The list includes:
- His previous reckless driving ticket resulting from the fatal accident.
- Evidence that he consumed alcohol before the crash, including his prior DUI and speeding tickets.
- Testimony from Grossman's daughter, Alexis, who claims she saw Erickson hiding in bushes after the crash, smelled alcohol on him, and later felt threatened by him.
- A phone call with former baseball colleague Royce Clayton discussing "racing" with Grossman and advice to call a lawyer.
- His initial statement to police after the accident.
Grossman herself has filed motions to block evidence from her criminal trial being used in the civil case. Astonishingly, she seeks to prevent the jury from learning about her murder and manslaughter convictions. She also aims to exclude details of a past speeding ticket, her prescription medications, and her substantial wealth.
Allegations of Hidden Assets and Upcoming Proceedings
In a parallel development, Grossman was recently accused of trying to fraudulently hide assets ahead of the civil trial. Court documents show her husband, Dr. Peter Grossman—also named as a defendant as the owner of the Mercedes—transferred the title of their Hidden Hills mansion to a mystery trust and a tax lawyer. The property is now listed for sale at $13.5 million.
The Iskanders' lawyers successfully argued for Dr. Grossman to be deposed again regarding this asset transfer, with Judge Judy Cotton ruling in their favour. The judge also denied Grossman's attempt to stop the deposition of her daughter, Alexis, whose testimony about Erickson caused a sensation during the criminal trial.
As both sides prepare for the January civil trial, the legal manoeuvres highlight the intense battle over what evidence the jury will hear and see, setting the stage for a highly contentious courtroom showdown.
