Judge Orders 30-Year-Old Man to Leave Parents' Home
Couple took son to court after he refused to move out
A New York judge has ordered a 30-year-old man to vacate his parents' Syracuse-area home after they sued to get him out.
Mark and Christina Rotondo took the case to court when their son, Michael, failed to fly the coop, even after he received several eviction notices from his parents, according to Syracuse.com.
"After a discussion with your Mother, we have decided that you must leave this house immediately," Mark Rotondo said to his son in a letter filed with the court. Michael Rotondo called the ruling by State Supreme Court Justice Donald Greenwood "outrageous" and has vowed to appeal the decision, WABC reports. Greenwood said the son's demand for six more months was "outrageous." Michael Rotondo moved back home eight years ago, after losing a job. The judge also expressed concern about what was going on in the household and ordered adult protective services to look into the situation.
The case, first reported by Syracuse.com, has made international headlines.
In a series of letters filed with the court, the Rotondos offered $1,100 to help their son move and pay for a place to live. In one letter, dated Feb. 18, 2018, the parents said: "There are jobs available even for someone with a poor work history like you. Get one — you have to work." They also said, "If you need help finding a place your Mother has offered to help you."
In total, the couple wrote their son five times in February and March, requesting that he leave their house. But he ignored all their notes.
Michael Rotondo served as his own attorney, telling the court that no one had ever asked him to help around the house or to cover any expenses. After the ruling, he told reporters that living with his parents had grown "awkward." He said he occupies a bedroom and doesn't speak to his parents.
If all this sounds familiar, it might be because of the 2006 movie Failure to Launch, which starred Matthew McConaughey as a 35-year-old professional who refused to leave his parents' home.
