The mother of Tommy Valva, the 8-year-old boy from Long Island who tragically died from severe abuse in his father’s police garage, is reportedly dissatisfied with a proposed $2 million settlement and is seeking more than double that amount.
Justina Zubko-Valva had previously consented to a $9 million settlement distribution. Of that, $3 million was allocated for her attorney’s fees, she received $2 million, and $4 million was earmarked for two trusts for her surviving teenage sons.
In 2022, she filed a $200 million lawsuit against Suffolk County, accusing teachers of failing to protect Tommy after she made numerous abuse and neglect reports to Child Protective Services.
One of her claims was that the judge erred in giving her ex-husband temporary joint custody of Tommy and his siblings, leading to their eventual removal.
She lost full custody when she declined to undergo a psychiatric assessment during her legal challenges.
Now, she is contesting the settlement, hoping to secure $5.5 million while leaving her two children with just $250,000 each in trust, as reported by Newsday.
According to reports, Zubko-Valva argues that she needs more financial resources to adequately care for her sons’ ongoing needs, which includes their education.
She expressed to the court, “I can’t return to work while my children are still dealing with the aftermath of such horrific abuse,” referring to the trauma suffered by her other sons.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Arlene Lindsay, who had approved the initial settlement, cautioned that Zubko-Valva’s latest objections could delay the payment process further.
The proposed settlement involves $500,000 needed urgently to prevent her home from going into foreclosure.
Judge Lindsay suggested that a settlement trust could be created to ensure that Zubko-Valva can access the funds necessary for daily childcare expenses.
Her attorneys have until January 15 to present a revised proposal, with an additional week allowed for the county’s response, ahead of a hearing scheduled for January 30.
Tommy’s heartbreaking death in January 2020 sent shockwaves through the community.
He succumbed to the cold after being forced to sleep in an unheated garage without blankets, a consequence of abuse from his father, Michael Valva, a former police officer, and his fiancée, Angela Pollina. Both were later convicted of murder and received sentences of 25 years to life in prison.
