The tragic death of 8-year-old Thomas Valva shook the Suffolk County community to its core in January 2020. The young boy froze to death in the unheated garage of a home owned by his ex-NYPD father, Michael Valva, and his then-fiancée, Angela Pollina. Both Valva and Pollina were later convicted of murder and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for the heinous crime.
Thomas’s mother, Justyna Zubko-Valva, has been fighting for justice for her son ever since. She filed a lawsuit against Suffolk County for $200 million in 2022, alleging that the county failed to protect Thomas despite numerous complaints of abuse and neglect to Child Protective Services. After a long legal battle, a revised $9 million settlement was reached, but Zubko-Valva initially refused to sign it.
However, in a surprising turn of events, Zubko-Valva agreed to the tweaked settlement in a Magistrate court on Monday. She cited her difficult financial situation, including a house in foreclosure that needed immediate payment to save their home, as the reason for her change of heart. The revised agreement includes upfront payments of $2 million for Zubko-Valva and $2 million trusts for each of her two other children. Additionally, her attorneys would be awarded $3 million in fees.
Despite the settlement being agreed upon by Zubko-Valva, Suffolk County has raised concerns about the revisions. The language in the new agreement could potentially allow Zubko-Valva’s other sons, Anthony and Andrew, to file new claims against the county once they turn 18. This has prompted the county to rethink signing off on the deal, as it changes the structure of the settlement from a wrongful-death agreement to one centered on “pain and suffering.”
The case has been ongoing, with Judge Arlene Lindsay ordering Suffolk County to submit written arguments on the settlement by Friday. The next court date has been set for December 29, where a final decision on the agreement will be made.
The senseless death of Thomas Valva has had a lasting impact on his family and the community. As they continue to seek closure and justice for the young boy, the legal proceedings surrounding the case remain complex and emotionally charged. The outcome of the settlement will have far-reaching implications for all parties involved and will hopefully bring some semblance of peace to Zubko-Valva and her family.
