A decade-long legal battle ensues as an IT engineer fights to recover a hard drive containing 7,500 bitcoins, currently worth over $500 million.
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| A man's accidental disposal of a hard drive in 2013 has turned into a multi-million dollar legal dispute with a city council. Symbolic Image |
Newport, UK --- October 14, 2024:
James Howells, a Welsh IT engineer, has been embroiled in a decade-long legal and personal battle to recover a hard drive containing 7,500 bitcoins, currently valued at around $500 million. The drive was mistakenly discarded in a landfill in 2013, and despite repeated pleas, Newport City Council has denied him permission to excavate the site.
Howells' ordeal began in 2013 when he accidentally threw away the hard drive containing his bitcoins, which were then worth less than £1 million. A miscommunication with his partner led to the drive being discarded, and by the time Howells realized the mistake, it was too late. The drive had already been sent to the landfill, setting him on a decade-long mission to recover it.
Over the years, Howells has made numerous proposals to the council, including offering 10% of the recovered bitcoins, worth approximately £41 million based on current rates, to the city. Despite his persistence and his team's belief that they can safely excavate the site using advanced technology, Newport City Council has repeatedly blocked his excavation attempts, citing environmental risks associated with disturbing the landfill.
Howells' legal case hinges on his belief that the bitcoin hard drive can still be recovered. His team of experts, including specialists in landfill excavation and data recovery, believes there is an 80% chance the hard drive can be located and the data retrieved. The £10 million excavation would be privately funded, meaning no cost to Newport City Council. However, despite these assurances, the council remains firm in its refusal, leaving the case to be decided in court.
Howells has devoted his life to this project, even quitting his IT job to focus entirely on recovering the hard drive. He continues to fight against the council's decisions, and until the court definitively rules against him, Howells has no intention of giving up. He acknowledges that his financial situation has worsened over the years but remains focused on recovering what he considers to be his rightful fortune.
The case has attracted significant media attention and has sparked debates about the environmental impact of landfill excavation and the legal rights of individuals seeking to recover lost property. While the outcome of the case remains uncertain, Howells' persistence and determination have made him a symbol of the allure and risks associated with the cryptocurrency world.