Title 16, Particular Actions, Proceedings and Matters. [Enacted title]

When excess real property is to be sold pursuant to section 16-1332 , notice of not less than twenty days before the sale shall be published in a daily newspaper published in the District of Columbia, and notice shall be sent before the sale, by registered mail or by certified ma…

When the authorities of the District of Columbia having jurisdiction of real property, rights, or easements acquired pursuant to this subchapter, elect to retain any of them for the use of the District, they may use the property, rights or easements for park, playground, highway,…

When real property is purchased pursuant to this subchapter in excess of that needed for a particular project or improvement, appropriations available for the payment of the purchase price, costs, and expenses incident to the project or improvement may be used in the payment of t…

(a) When, pursuant to this subchapter, excess real property is condemned by the Mayor, the condemnation proceedings for the acquisition of the property shall be in accordance with subchapter II of this chapter. (b) Appropriations available for the payment of awards, damages, and …

This subchapter does not repeal any provisions of existing law pertaining to the condemnation or acquisition of streets, alleys, or land, or the law or laws relating to the subdividing of lands in the District of Columbia.

As used in this subchapter, “acquiring authority” means the head of an executive department or agency of the United States, or other officer of the United States, or board or commission of the United States, authorized by law to acquire real property in the District of Columbia f…

When, for the purposes specified by section 16-1351 , it is deemed necessary or advantageous to do so, the acquiring authority may acquire real property in the District of Columbia in the name of the United States by condemnation under judicial process. The Attorney General of th…

(a) In an action pursuant to this subchapter, the plaintiff may file in the cause, with the complaint or at any time before judgment, a declaration of taking signed by the acquiring authority empowered by law to acquire the property described in the complaint, declaring that the …

After the filing of the declaration of taking, and the deposit of the money in the registry of the court, as provided for by section 16-1353 , the court, upon the application of the parties in interest, may order that the money so deposited, or any part thereof, be paid forthwith…

Upon the filing of a declaration of taking provided for by section 16-1353 , the court may fix the time within which and the terms upon which the parties in possession shall be required to surrender possession to the plaintiff. The court may make such orders in respect of encumbr…

In a proceeding pursuant to this subchapter, after all defendants have been served with notice, and there has been return of service, as provided by rule 71A(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure , and after defendants have appeared or answered in the manner provided by rule…

When the date for trial has been set, as provided by section 16-1356 , the court shall order the names of a number of persons, not less than twenty, selected from the special jury list provided by section 16-1312 , and the names of the persons selected shall be certified to the c…

The jurors selected and impaneled, as provided by section 16-1357 , shall take an oath or affirmation, administered by the court, that they: (1) are not interested in any manner in the property to be condemned; (2) are not, to their knowledge, related to any person interested in …

After being selected, impaneled, and sworn, as provided by sections 16-1357 and 16-1358 , and before hearing the evidence, the jury, in order to inspect the property to be acquired, shall be taken upon the property by the United States marshal at a time fixed by the court. All pa…

After the inspection provided for by section 16-1359 , and the jury has returned to the court, the trial of the cause shall be proceeded with before the court and jury. Any person who has appeared in the cause claiming any right, title, interest, or estate in the land to be taken…

At the close of the evidence in a proceeding pursuant to this subchapter, the court shall charge the jury and furnish them with a written form to be used in returning their verdict. The members of the jury may separate when not engaged in the consideration of their verdict. When …

If a verdict rendered pursuant to section 16-1361 , or any award contained therein, is set aside or vacated, the court shall — (1) grant a new trial with respect to the property as to which the verdict or award is set aside or vacated; (2) fix a date for the new trial; and (3) or…

Judgment upon a verdict returned pursuant to section 16-1361 or any award contained therein shall be entered against the United States in favor of the parties entitled for the sums awarded as just compensation, respectively, for the property condemned for the use of the United St…

A final judgment rendered against the United States pursuant to this subchapter has like force and effect as a money judgment rendered against the United States by the Court of Claims in a suit in respect of which the United States has expressly consented to be sued. The amount o…

A party aggrieved by a final judgment in a proceeding pursuant to this subchapter may appeal therefrom to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. The appeal, or any bond or undertaking given therein, does not operate to prevent or delay the vestin…

Payment into the registry of the court for the use of the parties entitled of the sum adjudged to be just compensation for the property to be condemned and taken, or for any parcel thereof, or any interest therein, pursuant to this subchapter, constitutes payment of the compensat…

Where possession has not been awarded pursuant to a declaration of taking, and the adjudged compensation has been paid into the registry as directed by the judgment of the court and a certified copy of the judgment, with a certificate of the clerk of the court showing the payment…

Where the mode or manner of conducting a proceeding pursuant to this subchapter is not expressly provided for by law or rules of court in force under authority of law, the court may make all necessary orders and give all necessary directions to carry into effect the object and in…

In order to promote the orderly and proper development of the seat of government of the United States, agencies of the United States authorized by law to acquire real property, may acquire, in the public interest, by gift, dedication, exchange, purchase, or condemnation fee simpl…

When the authorities of the United States having jurisdiction of real property (or rights or easements) acquired pursuant to this subchapter, elect to retain any of them for the use of the United States, they may use the property (or rights or easements) for park, playground, hig…

When real property is purchased pursuant to this subchapter in excess of that needed for a particular project or improvement, appropriations available for the payment of the purchase price, costs, and expenses incident to the project or improvement may be used in the payment of t…

(a) When excess real property is condemned by agencies of the United States as provided by this subchapter, the condemnation proceedings for the acquisition of the property shall be in accordance with subchapter IV of this chapter, or any laws in effect at the time of the commenc…

This subchapter does not repeal any provisions of existing law pertaining to the condemnation or acquisition of streets, alleys, or land, or the laws relating to the subdividing of lands in the District of Columbia.

(a) When a person detains possession of real property without right, or after his right to possession has ceased, the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, on complaint under oath verified by the person aggrieved by the detention, or by his agent or attorney having knowledg…

(a) The summons provided for by section 16-1501 shall be served at least 14 days before the day fixed for the initial hearing of the action. If the defendant has left the District, or cannot be found, the summons may be served by delivering a copy of the summons to the tenant, or…

(a) Any party to a case for restitution of possession based on nonpayment of rent may move for the entry of a protective order that prospectively requires the defendant to deposit the rent payment, in the monthly amount required by the rent ledger, lease, rental agreement, or ren…

When, upon a trial in a proceeding pursuant to this chapter, it appears that the plaintiff is entitled to the possession of the premises, judgment and execution for the possession shall be awarded in his favor, with costs; and if the plaintiff becomes nonsuit or fails to prove hi…

A judgment of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia in a proceeding pursuant to this chapter is not a bar to any afteraction brought by either party, and does not conclude any question of title between them, where title is not pleaded by the defendants.

(a) A thing in action, judgment, mortgage, or other security or conveyance made and executed by a person in which any part of the consideration is for money or other valuable things won by playing at any game whatsoever, or by betting on the sides or hands of persons who play, or…

(a) A person who, at any time or sitting, by playing at cards, dice or any other game, or by betting on the sides or hands of persons who play, loses to a person so playing or betting, a sum of money, or other valuable thing, amounting to $25 or more, and pays or delivers the mon…

Upon the discovery and repayment of the money or other thing to be discovered and repaid as provided by section 16-1702 , the person who so discovers and repays shall be acquitted, indemnified, and discharged from any further or other punishment, forfeiture, or penalty, that he m…

Whoever, at any one time or sitting, by fraud or false pretense, while playing any game, or while having a share in a wager played for, or while betting on the sides or hands of persons who play, wins, or acquires to himself or to any other person, above the sum or value of $25, …

(a) A person committed, detained, confined, or restrained from his lawful liberty within the District, under any color or pretense whatever, or a person in his behalf, may apply by petition to the appropriate court, or a judge thereof, for a writ of habeas corpus, to the end that…

A writ of habeas corpus issued pursuant to this chapter shall be served by delivering it to the officer or other person to whom it is directed, or by leaving it at the prison or place at which the party suing it out is detained. The officer or other person shall forthwith, or wit…

On an application for a writ of habeas corpus, if probable cause is shown for believing that the person charged with confining or detaining the person applying therefor, or on whose behalf the application is made: (1) is about to remove the person so detained from the place where…

If an officer or other person to whom a writ of habeas corpus is directed neglects or refuses to: (1) make return of the writ; or (2) bring the body of the person detained — according to the command of the writ, he shall forfeit to the person detained the sum of $500, and be liab…

A person committed or detained, or a person in his behalf, may demand a true copy of the warrant of commitment or detainer. An officer or other person detaining a person, who refuses or neglects to deliver to him or to a person in his behalf a true copy of the warrant of commitme…

On the return of a writ of habeas corpus issued pursuant to this chapter and the production of the person detained, the court or judge shall immediately inquire into the legality and propriety of the confinement or detention. If it appears that the person is detained without lega…

A person at whose instance or in whose behalf a writ of habeas corpus has been issued may traverse the return thereto, or plead any matters showing that there is not a sufficient legal cause for his confinement or detention. The court or judge may issue process for witnesses or f…

A person entitled to the custody of another person, unlawfully confined or detained by a third person, as a parent, guardian, committee, spouse, or domestic partner, entitled to the custody of a minor child, ward, spouse, or domestic partner, upon application to the court or a ju…

This chapter does not affect any provision of chapter 153 of Title 28, United States Code.