IN THE SUPERIOR COURT FOR

THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Civil Division

LAKEVILLE VENTURES LLC

Plaintiff,

v. Case No. 2026-CAB-004369

Judge Maribeth Raffinan

ALL PERSONS CLAIMING AN

OWNERSHIP INTEREST IN OR LIEN

UPON THE LAND DESCRIBED AS PART

OF LOST 3 IN SQUARE 434, AS SHOWN

ON ORIGINAL RECORDS OF SQUARES

BOOK 2 AT PAGE 434 RECORDED

AMONG THE RECORDS OF THE OFFICE

OF THE SURVEYOR OF THE DISTRICT

OF COLUMBIA, AND BEING BOUNDED

AND DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS:

BEGINNING FOR THE SAME AT THE

SOUTHWEST CORNER OF SAID LOT

AND RUNNING THENCE NORTH 18

FEET; THENCE EAST 5 FEET; THENCE

SOUTH 18 FEET; THENCE WEST 5 FEET

TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING,

DESIGNATED FOR ASSESSMENT AND

TAXATION PURPOSES AS LOT 809 IN

SQUARE 434 (LOCATED AT 7TH AND D

STREETS, S.W., WASHINGTON, D.C.)

ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO SERVE BY PUBLICATION

This matter comes before the Court upon Plaintiff Lakeville Ventures LLC’s Motion for Leave to Serve Unknown Defendants by Publication, filed on July 8, 2026. For the reasons herein, Plaintiff’s Motion is granted.

I. Background

On June 25, 2026, Plaintiff filed its Complaint. Plaintiff seeks as relief, pursuant to D.C. Code § 16-3301 et seq. and Rule 3-I of the Superior Court Rules of Civil Procedure, the quieting of its title to the following real property: part of Lot 3 in Square 434, as shown on Original Records of Squares Book 2 at page 434 recorded among the Records of the Office of the Surveyor of the District of Columbia, and being bounded and described as follows: beginning for the same at the southwest corner of said lot and running thence north 18 feet; thence east 5 feet; thence south 18 feet; thence west 5 feet to the point of beginning, designated for assessment and taxation purposes as Lot 809 in Square 434. Compl. 2. Plaintiff alleges that a cloud on title arises from a gap in the documentary chain of title to the Lot 809 Parcel. Id. Specifically, no recorded deed or other conveyance document was found to convey the Lot 809 Parcel to the United States of America, Plaintiff’s immediate predecessor in title. Id. Plaintiff further alleges that the United States of America acquired all lots abutting and comprising the Lot 809 Parcel in Square 434 between 1930 and 1931 and thereafter constructed a federal office building spanning the area occupied by the Lot 809 Parcel. Id. ¶¶ 9, 11. The United States maintained continuous, exclusive, open, and notorious possession of the Subject Parcel for over 95 years, during which time no adverse claimant asserted any interest in the parcel. Id. ¶¶ 11, 20.

Plaintiff further alleges that on March 23, 2026, the United States of America executed and delivered a Quitclaim Deed, recorded as Document No. 2026027245 in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds for the District of Columbia, conveying all right, title, and interest of the United States in the Property, including the Lot 809 Parcel, to Plaintiff. Id. 3; Ex. A. Despite the foregoing, the absence of any recorded deed or conveyance instrument establishing the United States’ acquisition of the Lot 809 Parcel creates a cloud on Plaintiff’s title that prevents the title insurance company from insuring this portion of the Property. Compl. ¶¶ 14–16, 22.

In the instant Motion, Plaintiff alleged that it is not aware of any known parties in interest and does not believe that there are any absent defendants who may claim an interest in, or lien upon, the Lot 809 Parcel. The last recorded deed affecting the Lot 809 Parcel was prior to 1910, more than 116 years ago. Plaintiff thus seeks an Order of Publication as a precautionary measure to quiet title to the Subject Parcel.

Plaintiff requests the Order mandate that any unknown person or entity claiming an ownership interest in or a lien upon the Lot 809 Parcel shall cause their appearance to be entered within forty (40) days, exclusive of Sundays and legal holidays, after the day of the first publication of the Order of Publication. Mot. 2. Otherwise, the case will be proceeded with as in the case of default, provided, a copy of the Order be published once a week for three consecutive weeks in THE DAILY WASHINGTON LAW REPORTER and THE WASHINGTON TIMES. Id. Plaintiff also requests that the Order mandate that if no claim is filed within the forty (40) day period, Plaintiff may apply for a final Order declaring that Lakeville Ventures LLC is the fee-simple owner of the real property, and any and all interests claimed by individuals or entities other than Plaintiff in the Lot 809 Parcel are extinguished.

II. Legal Standard

If the court determines that a party has been unable to accomplish service by a method

prescribed in Superior Court Civil Rule 4(c) or (e)(1)-(2), the court may permit an alternative method of service that the court determines is reasonably calculated to give actual notice of the action to the party to be served. Super. Ct. Civ. R. 4(e)(3)(A). Publication may be substituted for personal service of process in actions for the establishment of title to real estate upon a defendant who cannot be found after diligent efforts. D.C. Code § 13–336. Service by publication must be published for the prescribed time in at least one legal newspaper or periodical of daily circulation. Super. Ct. Civ. R. 4-I. Publication must be proved by affidavit of an officer or agent of the

publisher stating the dates of publication with an attached copy of the order as published. Id.

III. Analysis

Plaintiff has presented a copy of the Quitclaim deed, dated March 23, 2026, executed between the United States of America, acting by and through the Administrator of General Services, and Lakeville Ventures LLC. Ex. A. The deed conveys all right, title, and interest of the United States in the property that includes Lot 809 (as described in this Order) to Lakeville Ventures LLC, in consideration of twenty-four million two hundred sixty thousand and 00/100 dollars ($24,260,000.00). Id. Plaintiff represents that the Lot 809 Parcel has been in continuous, exclusive, open, and notorious federal possession for over 95 years, and during this entire period, no adverse claimant has ever asserted any interest in the parcel, filed any claim to ownership, or sought to occupy any portion thereof. Compl. ¶ 20. The last recorded deed affecting this lot was prior to 1910, more than 116 years ago. Id. Plaintiff is not aware of any known parties in interest and does not believe that there are any absent defendants who may claim an interest in, or lien upon, the Property. Mot. ¶ 5.

Upon consideration of Plaintiff’s representations and exhibits, the Court finds good cause to permit Plaintiff to effectuate service through publication to identify any unknown person or entity claiming an ownership interest in Lot 809.

Accordingly, it is this 14th of September 2026 hereby:

ORDERED that Plaintiff’s motion is GRANTED; and it is further

ORDERED that the Remote Initial Scheduling Conference set for September 25, 2026, is

VACATED and RESCHEDULED for December 18, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. in Courtroom 519 of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia; and it is further

ORDERED that any unknown person or entity claiming an ownership interest in or a lien upon part of Lot 3 in Square 434, as shown on Original Records of Squares Book 2 at page 434 recorded among the Records of the Office of the Surveyor of the District of Columbia, and being bounded and described as follows: beginning for the same at the southwest corner of said lot and running thence north 18 feet; thence east 5 feet; thence south 18 feet; thence west 5 feet to the point of beginning, designated for assessment and taxation purposes as Lot 809 in Square 434 (located at 7th and D Streets, S.W., Washington, D.C.) shall cause their appearance to be entered herein on or before the sixtieth (60th) day, exclusive of Sundays and legal holidays, occurring after the day of the first publication of this Order. Otherwise, the case will proceed as in the case of default, provided a copy of this Order be published once a week for three consecutive weeks in THE DAILY WASHINGTON LAW REPORTER and THE WASHINGTON TIMES; and it is further

ORDERED that if no claim is filed within the sixty (60) day period aforesaid, Plaintiff may apply for a final Order declaring that Lakeville Ventures LLC is the fee-simple owner of the real property described as part of Lot 3 in Square 434, as shown on Original Records of Squares Book 2 at page 434 recorded among the Records of the Office of the Surveyor of the District of Columbia, and being bounded and described as follows: beginning for the same at the southwest corner of said lot and running thence north 18 feet; thence east 5 feet; thence south 18 feet; thence west 5 feet to the point of beginning, designated for assessment and taxation purposes as Lot 809 in Square 434 (located at 7th and D Streets, S.W., Washington, D.C.); and any and all interests claimed by individuals or entities other than Plaintiff in the Subject Parcel are extinguished.

SO ORDERED.

/s/ Judge Maribeth Raffinan

Superior Court of the District of Columbia

September 18th & 25th, 2026

October 2nd, 2026

Ad#105254