NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION

NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF NEW HANOVER IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION FILE NO. 26CV003533-640 KARL W. MILLER, LL.M, MCIArb, Plaintiff, v. JEFFREY AMATO, Defendant. TO: JEFFREY AMATO Take notice that pleadings and motions seeking relief against you have been filed in the above-captioned civil action in the Superior Court Division of the General Court of Justice, New Hanover County, North Carolina. The nature of the relief being sought is as follows: Plaintiff seeks declaratory judgment under the North Carolina Declaratory Judgment Act and Rule 57 of the North Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure concerning the parties' rights, duties, and legal relations relating to the recorded private access and utility easement and related access-drive, retaining-wall, drainage, stormwater, and supporting infrastructure serving 243 Beech Street, Wilmington, North Carolina. Plaintiff seeks a declaration that Defendant Jeffrey Amato, as owner and beneficiary of the dominant estate at 243 Beech Street, bears legal and financial responsibility to participate in and contribute to necessary maintenance, repair, stabilization, environmental review, permitting, and reconstruction of the easement and supporting access-drive/retaining-wall infrastructure, absent a written agreement shifting that duty to Plaintiff. Plaintiff also seeks emergency and protective relief under Rule 65 of the North Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure, including temporary restraining and protective injunctive relief preserving the access-drive, retaining-wall, drainage, stormwater, easement, and evidence status quo; restraining obstruction, interference, alteration, destruction, or conduct that worsens the condition or frustrates effective relief; preserving engineering, inspection, environmental review, permitting, emergency-stabilization, and documentation access; and preserving the Court's ability to grant effective declaratory, equitable, and related relief. Plaintiff further seeks a written-record Rule 57 bench ruling on the narrow easement-duty issue, no-bond or zero-security relief under Rule 65(c), costs as permitted by law, and such other and further relief as the Court deems just and proper. Final amount, percentage allocation, reimbursement, restitution, damages, construction sequencing, permitting mechanics, site-access logistics, final acceptance, and enforcement are reserved unless separately adjudicated by the Court. You are required to make defense to such pleadings and motions not later than August 19, 2026, and upon your failure to do so, Plaintiff will apply to the Court for the relief sought. This the 10th day of July, 2026. Karl W. Miller, LL.M, MCIArb Plaintiff, Pro Se 251 Beech Street Wilmington, NC 28405 Email: kmiller@icroadvisor.com July 12, August 2 2026 LWLM0554129