A JUDGE ruled that a 30-year-old man has to move out of his parents’ home after they were forced to take their squatting son to court.
Michael Rotondo lost the extraordinary legal battle after his parents repeatedly sent him formal letters asking him move out.
In one letter from February 2 the parents, Christina and Mark, wrote: “Michael, after a discussion with your mother, we have decided that you must leave this house immediately.
“You have 14 days to vacate. You will not be allowed to return. We will take whatever actions are necessary.”
The parents decided to seek legal counsel and served another letter on February 13 telling Michael he had 30 days to move out or they would seek legal action.
Another letter shortly after read: “Michael Joseph Rotondo, you are hereby evicted.”
The parents, living in
New York, wrote another letter telling their son to find a job and even offered their son $1,110 (£841) to “find a place to stay”.
The letter said: “Some advice:
1) Organise the things you need for work and to manage an apartment. Note: You will need stuff at (redacted). You must arrange the date and time through your Father so he can set it up with the tenant.
2) Sell the other things you have that have any significant value, (e.g. stereo, some tools etc.). This is especially true for any weapons you may have. You need the money and will have no place for the stuff.
3) There are jobs available even for those with a poor work history like you. Get one - you have to work!
4) If you want help finding a place your Mother has offered to help you."
In the fifth and final letter Michael’s parents offered to pay for the repairs for his broken down car to get it off their property, and he still refused to leave.
Michael, who moved back into his parents house eight years ago, represented himself and argued he was allowed to spend six more months at his parent’s home.
Michael’s defence was that he “has never been expected to contribute to household expenses, or assisted with chores or the maintenance of the premises and claims that this is a simply a component of his living agreement”, according to court documents seen by US broadcaster WSTM.
However, New York State Supreme Court justice Donald Greenwood issued an eviction order as he branded Michael’s demand “outrageous”.
After the ruling Michael said he plans to appeal the case and he finds the ruling “ridiculous”.
He told local reporters: “I just wanted a reasonable amount of time to vacate, with consideration to the fact that I was not really prepared to support myself at the time of the notices.
“It seems to me like I should be provided with, you know, 30 days or so, because generally you get 30 days after you're found, you know, to have to vacate the premises.
”So I'm expecting something like that. But realistically, if that's not the case, I don't know."