Torts/Personal Injury
Jun. 15, 2026
Nearly $200M wrongful death verdict highlights rarity of punitive damages
Lawyers say the nearly $200 million verdict against Rebecca Grossman and Scott Erickson reflects unusually egregious facts, a rare punitive damages award and strategic trial decisions that may help preserve the judgment.
A jury's nearly $200 million wrongful death verdict against convicted socialite Rebecca Grossman and former Dodgers pitcher Scott Erickson has drawn praise from legal observers who say the award not only recognized the devastating loss suffered by the plaintiffs, but underscored the rarity of a civil case advancing to a punitive damages phase.
According to U.S. Department of Justice statistics, punitive damages have historically been awarded in only about 5% of plaintiff victo...
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