EXCLUSIVE: 'Deadbeat' millennial, 30, who was thrown out of his parents' home by a judge, tells how a bitter row over his own son sparked the eviction, how he dropped out of college because it was too hard and insists he is too busy to get a job

  • Michael Rotondo, 30, spoke with DailyMail.com after he was ordered out of his parents' Camillus, New York home by a judge on Tuesday 
  • The college drop out said he has lived away from home once in his life, about eight years ago 
  • He moved back in with his parents less than two years later, when he lost his job
  • During his brief stint living away from home, he became a father
  • He says his troubles with his parents are connected to him losing custody of his son late last year
  • After losing custody, he says his parents told him to get a job and insurance
  • He said he couldn't because it would compromise his attempts to get his court fees waived
  • A few days after his parents had a court hearing to get visitation of their grandson, Michael says they gave him his first written order to move out
  • Michael refused to leave and fought his parents in court on Tuesday
  • The judge ultimately sided with his parents, ordering him out of their house 

  • The 30-year-old man who garnered national attention for his refusal to move out of his parents' home has spoken out to detail his troubles with his folks.
    On Tuesday, a judge ordered Michael Rotondo to move out of his parents' home in Camillus, New York, where he has been living rent-free for nearly a decade. 
    In an interview with DailyMail.com after the hearing, Michael said that his issues with his parents, Mark and Christina, are tied to his custody battle over his son.   
    Michael says he lost custody of his son, whose age he wouldn't disclose, back in September. The boy now lives with his mother full time, who Michael says he was never married to, or in a relationship with.
    He says he immediately filed an appeal as a 'poor person' so that his court fees could be waived going forward. But he says his parents complicated matters when they said he needed a job and health insurance if he was to continue living with them. 

    Michael Rotondo, 30, spoke with DailyMail.com after he was ordered out of his parents' home by a judge in Onondaga County, New York court on Tuesday Â 

    Michael Rotondo, 30, spoke with DailyMail.com after he was ordered out of his parents' home by a judge in Onondaga County, New York court on Tuesday  

    His parents,Christina and Mark Rotondo, are pictured on the right. They say they have been trying to kick him out of their house for months 

    His parents,Christina and Mark Rotondo, are pictured on the right. They say they have been trying to kick him out of their house for months 

    The Rotondos say their son has been living with them for the past eight years, without paying rent or contributing in any way  



    Michael refused, saying that his job at the moment was getting his son back.
    When they offered to pay for his health insurance, Michael explained that he couldn't take that money because it would compromise getting the 'poor person' status.
    Shortly after, he says his parents stopped providing food for him, and cut off his cellphone. They also said he couldn't use the laundry machines in the house anymore.
    His parents also went to court to try to get visitation of their grandchild. Michael says it was two days after that hearing that he got his first letter, in which his parents said they had 'decided that you must leave this house immediately'.
    The went on to send him four more letters, but Michael refused to budge.  

    Michael says his troubles with his parents are connected to the custody battle over his son 

    Michael says his troubles with his parents are connected to the custody battle over his son 
    Michael, seen leaving court on Tuesday, lost custody of his son last year but wouldn't say why 

    Michael, seen leaving court on Tuesday, lost custody of his son last year but wouldn't say why 

    Michael says he hasn't always lived at home. He says about eight years ago he lived in an apartment for a year and a half. He says it was around that time that he became a father.
    He eventually moved back in with his parents though when he lost his job ( 
    When asked where he was working at the time, Michael said he didn't 'want to disclose' his work history. 
    DailyMail.com did discovered that he used to work at a Best Buy, and that he is suing the company for discrimination, saying he was fired when he said he couldn't work Saturdays since that is when he had visitation with his child. He is seeking nearly $340,000 in damages, pay and attorney's fees from the big box store. 
    He said he went to college, but didn't finish his degree. He started off studying engineering at Onondaga Community College, but switched to business when he 'couldn't hack the math'. 

    The couple have written five letters to their son over the past three months, informing him that he must leave the home 

    The couple have written five letters to their son over the past three months, informing him that he must leave the home 

    The couple are now trying to get their son kicked out of their home through an ejectment proceeding 
    The couple are now trying to get their son kicked out of their home through an ejectment proceeding 
    In his letter, written on February 18, the couple offered some advice to their son to help him find a new place to live 

    In his letter, written on February 18, the couple offered some advice to their son to help him find a new place to live 

    On March 5, the couple threatened that they would 'take any appropriate actions necessary to make sure you leave the house as demanded'

    On March 5, the couple threatened that they would 'take any appropriate actions necessary to make sure you leave the house as demanded'

    The most recent letter regarded Michael's car, which they say they want off their property

    The most recent letter regarded Michael's car, which they say they want off their property

    Michael also wouldn't go into detail about how he lost custody of his son, but insists he is a 'great father' and that the court ruling was 'unreasonable'.
    The judge in that case said he could see his son, but only in therapeutic environments. And the boy's mother has to approve.
    Michael said he doesn't think his son is 'better off in any way' over the decision.
    DailyMail.com tried to reach out to Michael's parents on Tuesday, but whoever was at the home hung up the call.

    In court on Tuesday, Michael argued that there was a legal precedent that his parents had to give him six months notice in order to kick him our. 
    The judge said that precedent had been overturned in another case, and said six months was an 'outrageous' amount of time to ask for. Michael responded that it was 'outrageous' to evict him. 
    The judge also ordered adult protective services to investigate.
    Michael left court frustrated, refusing to speak to his parents and saying he didn't think the judge read the case fully, according to CNY Central.
    'I am just so outraged,' he said outside court, adding that he has been taunted by conservative groups for being a 'liberal millennial'. 
    It was not decided in court on Tuesday when Michael must be out of the house. But he says he plans to appeal, so any enforceable order likely won't be written until that case is over.  
    His parents home is owned by his mother, who bought it in 1988. The four-bedroom home is worth an estimated $218,000 according to Zillow.   
    Over the past three months, the Rotondos have given their son five written notices to move out, but he has ignored their orders.
    They initially tried to get him evicted, but learned that since he is a family member, he would have to be removed from their home through an ejectment proceeding.  
    In a response to his parents' court filings, Michael - who turns 31 in July and is acting as his own lawyer - says his parents have not given him a reason why he is being kicked out, or enough time to find a new place.  
    He claims in his response that in the eight years he has lived with his parents, he 'has never been expected to contribute to household expenses, or assisted with chores and the maintenance of the premises, and claims that this is simply a component of his living agreement'. 
    In a redacted filing, Michael also said he runs his own 'successful' business, calling it 'the overwhelmingly superior choice for the economic well being over the working of a full-time job'. 

    Michael is pictured center right with his parents and sister in happier times 

    Michael is pictured center right with his parents and sister in happier times 

    The Rotondos first asked their son to leave in a letter written on February 2   
    His father wrote that 'after a discussion with your Mother, we have decided that you must leave this house immediately'. They gave him 14 days to vacate, saying he 'will not be allowed to return'.
    'We will take whatever actions are necessary to enforce this decision,' the letter read.
    When he had not moved out two weeks later, his parents followed up with another letter, telling him he had been 'evicted'.

    'You have heretofore been our guest and there is no lease or agreement that gives you any right to stay here without our consent,' they wrote.
    They then gave up another 30 days to leave.
    The couple wrote a third letter five days later, offering Michael $1,100 to find a new place to stay and some advice on how to get a new apartment - such as selling 'any weapons you may have' for rent money (he later said he took that money and used it for expenses). 
    'There are jobs available even for those with a poor work history like you. Get one-- you have to work!


    Rotondo's son is pictured left and right. He lost custody last year 

    'If you want help finding a place your Mother has offered to help you,' the letter reads.
    On March 5, the couple wrote a fourth letter saying they 'have seen no indication that you are preparing to leave'.
    'Be aware that we will take any appropriate actions necessary to make sure you leave the house as demanded,' they wrote.
    Their most recent letter was written on March 30, concerns Michael's car, offering him money to fix it so that it can be taken off their property. 
    'I feel bad for both of them, because he’s not learning anything by staying at home and he’s just wasting their time and money,' one neighbor said, according to WRAL.  
    Michael appears to be no stranger of the civil court system.  
    In a separate case, he claimed his rights to due process were violated in family court, but that case was thrown out in November of last year. 

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