Man fights to recover lost £500 million bitcoin fortune in court
James Howells, an individual who lost his hard drive containing a fortune of 7,500 bitcoins worth £500 million, is currently fighting for the chance to retrieve it from a landfill after more than 10 years. The hard drive was accidentally discarded and ended up in a local landfill. Now, Howells is taking legal action against the local authority to reclaim what he believes is still his property.
The case is playing out in Cardiff civil and family court, where Newport City Council is attempting to dismiss the case before it reaches a full trial. Howells, on the other hand, is determined to pursue the legal route to recover his lost fortune. The legal debate revolves around the ownership of items in a landfill, with Howells’ representative seeking a declaration of rights over the ownership of the bitcoin.
Despite the challenges, Howells has garnered support from various legal teams and data recovery experts who are assisting him in the search for the hard drive. The case has sparked discussions about the environmental impact of excavating a landfill and the associated costs to taxpayers. Howells has assured that the excavation can be done within environmental guidelines and at no cost to the public.
It’s worth noting that Howells previously offered the council £50 million as a reward if he successfully retrieved the hard drive and its contents. The current soaring value of bitcoin, which has surpassed $100,000, has added to the urgency of recovering the lost fortune. The judge overseeing the case has yet to decide whether it will proceed to a full trial, taking into consideration all aspects of the situation.
Despite the challenges and uncertainties surrounding the case, Howells remains optimistic about the possibility of finding his lost bitcoin fortune. The journey to recover the hard drive from a landfill after a decade poses unique challenges, but Howells and his team are determined to pursue every option available to reclaim what is rightfully his.
