Settlement in Thomas Valva Case Collapses

The federal government’s $9 million settlement connected to the tragic freezing death of 8-year-old Thomas Valva on Long Island has fallen apart. Thomas’s mother, Justina Zubko-Valva, expressed that this amount is inadequate.

In a courtroom session that lasted two hours on Friday, she accused her attorney of misconduct for agreeing to the settlement, which she refused to sign alongside Suffolk County, according to a source familiar with the situation.

“I’m at a loss as to what to do here,” Judge Edward Corman said after Zubko-Valva declined to proceed with the agreement, as reported by Newsday.

Her decision not to sign the documents—stating that she required the funds urgently to avoid foreclosure on her home—led to the unexpected breakdown of the ongoing lawsuit.

The settlement finalized in September now sits in limbo, without a clear resolution in sight.

“I understand that you don’t agree to sign the settlement, and if that’s the right thing to do, there’s nothing more I can do,” Corman remarked to Newsday.

The heartbreaking case, which involved Thomas’s death in January 2020, deeply affected the Suffolk County community. The boy died from exposure after being forced to sleep in the unheated garage by his father, Michael Valva, a former police officer, and his fiancée, Angela Pollina. Both were eventually convicted of murder and are serving lengthy prison sentences.

Zubko-Valva had filed a lawsuit against Suffolk County for $200 million in 2022, claiming the Child Protective Services failed to act on repeated reports of abuse and neglect. However, she informed the judge last week that the $9 million offered does not adequately compensate for the suffering experienced by her family, as noted by the newspaper.

Legal experts observing the situation suggested that the judge might still advocate for a resolution.

During a press conference on Friday, Zubko-Valva voiced her worries that the stipulations of the settlement had shifted. She shared that she initially believed she would receive most of the funds, with a portion reserved for her surviving sons.

Further complicating matters, she alleged that her lawyer had forged her signature and was unnecessarily prolonging the case to reduce legal fees. A source told the Post, “This is a money grab,” explaining that Zubko-Valva hesitated to share the settlement with her other children, pay attorney fees, or deal with tax implications.

Her attorney contested her accusations, stating he had attempted to meet with her to finalize the necessary documents but had faced refusals, according to Newsday.

“The Liakas Law Firm fought and won a $9 million settlement with our client and changes to protect New York’s children. We are not involved in any internal family disputes,” said Hank Shenkopf, a spokesman for the firm.

Zubko-Valva was unavailable for comment.