The $9 million federal settlement in the tragic Long Island freezing death of 8-year-old Thomas Valva at the hands of his ex-NYPD father has hit a roadblock, as the boy’s mother, Justyna Zubko-Valva, has refused to sign off on the agreement, deeming it insufficient.
During a court conference, Zubko-Valva accused her lawyers of misconduct for agreeing to the settlement with Suffolk County and expressed her dissatisfaction with the proposed amount. Her refusal to sign the documents led to a tense two-hour standoff, leaving the settlement in limbo.
Thomas Valva’s death in January 2020 sent shockwaves through the Suffolk County community. The young boy succumbed to the frigid temperatures after being repeatedly abused by his father, Michael Valva, and his then-fiancĂ©e, Angela Pollina, who forced him to sleep in an unheated garage. Both perpetrators were convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison.
Zubko-Valva filed a lawsuit against Suffolk County for $200 million in 2022, citing the county’s failure to protect her son despite numerous complaints to Child Protective Services. The proposed $9 million settlement, however, fell short of addressing the family’s immense suffering.
Legal experts speculate on the judge’s next steps, as Zubko-Valva raised concerns about the distribution of the settlement funds, claiming she was misled about the allocation. She also accused her attorneys of forging her signature and prolonging the case for higher attorney fees.
While her attorneys deny any wrongdoing and assert their efforts to finalize the paperwork, Zubko-Valva remains adamant in her stance. She is determined not to split the settlement with her children, pay taxes, or attorney fees, insisting on a larger share of the settlement if these obligations stand.
The Liakas Law firm, representing Zubko-Valva, emphasized their successful advocacy for the $9 million settlement and reforms to protect New York children, distancing themselves from the internal family disputes.
As the case remains unresolved, with Zubko-Valva withholding her consent, the future of the settlement hangs in the balance, leaving the courts uncertain about the next course of action.
