A UK man named James Howells is attempting to sue his local council for access to a buried hard drive that he claims contains a Bitcoin wallet worth £600 million (over $1.1 billion). Howell’s girlfriend accidentally discarded the hard drive in 2013, which ended up in a landfill managed by Newport County authorities in Wales. During a court hearing, the council argued that too much time has passed for Howell’s claim to be valid and that they are under no obligation to excavate the site. Howell’s lawyer insisted that they seek recognition of ownership over the Bitcoin. The judge has yet to make a final decision on the matter.
A man from the UK is taking legal action against his local council because he believes a Bitcoin wallet he owned is buried in a landfill. The wallet, stored on a hard drive, could now be worth a staggering £600 million, which is more than $1.1 billion, according to reports from the BBC.
James Howells claims that his girlfriend accidentally threw the hard drive away back in 2013. The hard drive ended up in a landfill managed by Newport County authorities in Wales, and now, Howells is asking for permission to excavate the site to retrieve it.
During a recent court hearing, Howells’ lawyer argued that he has the right to recover what he believes is his property. However, the council’s barrister, James Goudie, stated that too much time has passed, and they are not required to dig up the landfill. He even claimed that Howells’ offer to donate 10 percent of the Bitcoin to the community was essentially a bribe.
Goudie maintained that any items disposed of in the landfill are considered the property of the council, and environmental laws could prevent excavation. The court has yet to make a final decision on whether Howells can proceed with his case.
As the legal battle unfolds, the story highlights the ongoing debate around digital assets, property rights, and the implications of lost technology in an ever-evolving digital age.
Tags: Bitcoin, legal battle, Newport County, cryptocurrency, landfill recovery, property rights, digital assets.
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Why is the man suing the council?
The man is suing the council because he wants to access a waste site where he believes a huge amount of Bitcoin, worth billions, is buried. -
How did the Bitcoin get buried?
The Bitcoin is said to be linked to a hard drive that was accidentally thrown away, containing the keys to the wallet with the funds. -
What does he want the council to do?
He wants the council to help him dig up the landfill site to search for the hard drive and retrieve his Bitcoin. -
Has the council responded to his request?
The council has not officially agreed to his request and expressed concerns about the cost and environmental issues. - What happens next in the lawsuit?
The lawsuit will be heard in court, where a judge will decide if the man can force the council to let him search the site.
