After a prolonged court struggle spanning over a decade regarding a missing Bitcoin stash, James Howells, an IT specialist hailing from Newport, Wales, faced dissatisfaction when the legal dispute concluded unfavorably.
According to the BBC report, the High Court in Cardiff has rejected Howells’ legal claim against Newport City Council. This decision denies him access to a landfill site where there is said to be a discarded hard drive containing approximately 8,000 Bitcoins.
Initially discarded back in 2013, it’s now estimated that the hard drive could be worth anywhere between 700 and 750 million dollars, given its current value as Bitcoin (BTC) surpassed 94,000 dollars per unit.
Howells requested approval for digging up the site or was asking for a £495 million settlement, proposing to distribute a portion of the found Bitcoins to the city council and the surrounding neighborhood if successful.
In my analysis, I found that Judge Keyser KC dismissed the claim due to a lack of “sufficient grounds,” with his reasoning rooted in environmental considerations and the local council’s control over the waste deposited at the landfill.
It’s said that the landfill contains approximately 1.4 million tons of waste, yet Howells alleges he has identified the position of the hard drive within a 100,000-ton segment of it.
In response to the verdict, as reported by BBC, Howells voiced his disappointment, labeling it a “hard blow” instead.
James Howells might consider vying for a position in local politics, advocating an initiative to revitalize the community by investing personally in projects, with half of the earnings being directed back into the local district.
— Rupert Myers (@RupertMyers) January 9, 2025
Back in 2009, Howells was already mining Bitcoin, but at that time its worth was almost nonexistent. Even after multiple discussions and gathering a group of specialists for the rescue operation, the authorities persistently refused to allow excavation, citing strict environmental laws as the reason.
Although there were no disputes over Howells’ possession of Bitcoins, the court’s ruling brings an end to a story filled with missed chances and legal hurdles.
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2025-01-10 00:32