Title
The Case of Matthew and Elizabeth Skarlatos vs. Fairfax County
Date
March 19, 2019
State or Country
Virginia
County/City:
Fairfax Virginia
The Court the Case was filed in
19th circuit court Virginia
Type of Case
Guardianship
Case Number
CR2018-1840162
Judges
Brett Kassabian
Plaintiff
Patrica Trott Skarlatos
Defendant
Elizabeth Skarlatos and Matthew Skarlatos
Plaintiff Attorney
Cary Cucinelli - Cucinelli & Geiger law firm Fairfax Virginia - https://cucinelligeiger.com/
Valerie Geiger Paul Skarlatos' guardian June 2015 to July 2016 (terminated duties due to conflict of interest with her partner's representation to the Plaintiff)
George O. Peterson ESQ - Peterson Saylor law firm Fairfax Virginia - https://petersonsaylor.com/attorney/george-peterson/
Defendant Attorney
Nina Ginsberg of DimuroGinsberg PC - Alexandria Virginia -
https://www.dimuro.com/meet-our-attorneys/nina-j-ginsberg/
Jessica N. Carmichael of Carmichael Ellis and Brock law firm Alexandria Virginia - https://www.carmichaellegal.com/jessica-carmichael
Jay L. Pickus of Jackson Pickus & Associates PC - Richmond Virginia -
https://lawyers.findlaw.com/profile/view/1801400_1
Jon Moseley - Attorney at law Prince William County Virginia -
http://www.jonathonmoseley.com/
Guardian
Valerie Geiger June 2015 to July 2016
Alice Paxton July 2016 to July 2018 (previously worked for Ikor International) - https://paladinlifecare.com/about/our-team/alice-paxton/
Others that affected your case
Local media involved -
https://wjla.com/news/local/7-on-your-side-families-divided
https://wjla.com/features/7-on-your-side/police-can-seize-heirlooms-in-family-disputes
The initial media story "Families Divided" followed the Judge's determination in the Spring 2018 on the conditions for the Skarlatos children's visitation rights to see their own father after reporting his abuse and neglect to State agencies which were ignored and then punished by Paul Skarlatos guardian(s).
This was in fact the only reasons for the police's involvement just 6 weeks after the the story aired. The second news story "police can seize heirlooms in family disputes" was completed by the same news organization just 2 weeks after the Fairfax County Police's involvement. My sister and I were informed by WJLA that they had never seen the police used in a familial property dispute with the defendant(s) in this case having no criminal records prior to the unlawful search and seizure by the Fairfax County police and with the plaintiff the only witness using the media story as evidence which formed the basis for the affidavit.
The warrant(s) for search and seizure with arrests had only a magistrate's authorization with no corresponding Judge identified which the news organization said they had never seen before. This was also corroborated through a number of attorneys our family spoke with.
We were told by WJLA that this was unprecedented in it's use and latitude by "any" court which is why they immediately did the second story just 6 weeks later. Telling us that it had the potential of changing the dynamics of the media's role in the future with severe legal implications as a result of the court and police's action(s). This and more importantly the facts surrounding the nature of our father's death less than two weeks after the police raid which was highly suspicious and unexpected.
Document Links 1 (Scribd et. al)
https://www.scribd.com/document/467729021/Demand-Letter-April-2019
Comments
The case stayed in juvenile and domestic court for 9 months without any presentation of evidence or witnesses by the prosecutor in charge. All charges were formally dropped through a coerced settlement (see the demand letter) sent to the Virginia Attorney General , Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney, Office of State Inspector General of Virginia and Virginia State Police below.
The demand letter was also delivered on the recommendations of U.S. Senator Tim Kaine's staff to the Governor. None of these servants of the State have responded in-kind, or attempted to accommodate my repeated requests for a full investigation of the circumstances into our father's death which we were informed would be forthcoming through Health and Human Services under the auspices of the Governor's office as of last year -but to no avail.
Exhibit(s) to the Demand letter are furnished here -
https://www.scribd.com/document/472317395/Affidavit-Delivered-by-FCPD-7-3-2018
https://www.scribd.com/document/467729010/Exhibit-1
https://www.scribd.com/document/467729011/Exhibit-3
https://www.scribd.com/document/467729983/Exhibit-3-Attachment
https://www.scribd.com/document/467729016/Exhibit-4
https://www.scribd.com/document/467729012/Exhibit-5
https://www.scribd.com/document/467729019/Skarlatos-Police-Report-Bedore-
JNC-Highlights
https://www.scribd.com/document/467729458/Exhibit-6-Ltr-to-Judge-Kassabian-
Re-WJLA-5-25-18
https://www.scribd.com/document/467729022/Skarlatos-Case-Emails
https://www.scribd.com/document/467729028/Exhibit-9
https://www.scribd.com/document/467729013/Additional-Items-Identified-Again-
Outside-the-Scope-the-Original-Warrant
https://www.scribd.com/document/467729981/Exhibit-10
https://www.scribd.com/document/467729991/Exhibit-11
https://www.scribd.com/document/467729987/Paul-Skarlatos-Will