Bank of America files to evict 23-year-old squatting in $2.5-million Boca Raton mansion
Anne Geggis and Ed Komenda, Sun Sentinel
Andre Barbosa's days of stylish squatting in a $2.5-million Boca Raton mansion may be numbered.
A filing in Palm Beach County court made public Friday names the 23-year-old Brazilian national and eight other unknown people as defendants for their attempt to stake a claim on the waterside property at 580 Golden Harbour Drive.
Bank of America is claiming rightful ownership of the home — despite Barbosa's invocation of an obscure Florida real estate law to stake his claim on the foreclosed property, a 7,522-square-foot, 5-bedroom palace that features canal views and whose interior includes pillars, a curved staircase and marbled bath.
Barbosa, who the bank says in court papers is liable for more than $15,000 for breaking into the house, could not be reached for comment.
But it could be the end of his stay in the posh neighborhood that has caught worldwide media attention — and the beginning of something that neighbors have been hoping for.
"We'd be thrilled to get our street back the way it was," said Yvonne Boice, who lives on the opposite side of the street from the foreclosed home.
Much to the irritation of the neighbors, the home has stood empty for 18 months. Bank of America foreclosed on $2.5 million owed on the house and took posssesion of it in July, according to county records. And soon after that, Barbosa claimed "adverse possession" of the house.
Adverse possession is a state law which allows someone to move into a property and claim the title — if they can stay there seven years.
Barbosa, who calls himself "Loki boy," posted a signed copy of his "adverse possession" note in the home's front window.
Since the story was published in the Sun Sentinel, media outlets from New York to London have chronicled the most valuable property grab since the adverse possession law started being used in a handful of Palm Beach County cases over the last three years.
Sunrise real estate lawyer Gary Singer said that the combination of Barbosa's chutzpah and the abandoned home's value have made it a cause celebre for outlets ranging from NBC's "Today" show to the New York Post to the Daily Mail.
Singer was interviewed about the story by Shepard Smith from Fox News. He said Smith jokingly asked him whether bums in New York should get a ticket to Florida.
"I told him, 'Sure, we've got lots of empty houses. Send them on down,'" Singer said.
Barbosa has remained elusive, however. But someone posting under his name on Facebook shows a picture of two friends posing next to expensive sports cars.
Police were called to the home the day after Christmas, but did not remove Barbosa. He presented cops with the "adverse possession" paperwork, according to the police report, so there was little they could legally do.
Singer said that the action made public Friday will take a few weeks to actually result in Barbosa's ejection.
"He'll be there for Valentine's Day," he predicted.
Given Barbosa's celebrity, he could find a lawyer to take the case, Singer said. That would mean a court case, which could drag things out even more.
"Maybe he'll spend St. Patty's Day there too," Singer said.
Staff researcher Barbara Hijek contributed to this report.
ageggis@tribune.com or 561-243-6624