Summary:
Judge rules against James Howells in his quest to recover $765 million in bitcoins.
Howells claims a hard drive containing access to 8,000 bitcoins was mistakenly thrown away in 2013.
The ruling cited the Control of Pollution Act 1974, stating the council owns the trash.
Howells' claim was also barred by the six-year statute of limitations.
He expresses frustration over the ruling, stating it has taken everything from him.
A British judge has ruled against James Howells, who sought to recover a hard drive believed to hold access to 8,000 bitcoins buried in a landfill for over 11 years. The judge concluded that Howells had no realistic chance of success in his claim against the Newport City Council.
The Lost Bitcoins
Howells claims that the hard drive, which he alleges contains the private key to his mined bitcoins from 2009, was mistakenly disposed of in 2013. At that time, the value of 7,500 bitcoins was about $7.5 million, but with the bitcoin price exceeding $100,000 recently, the potential value of the lost bitcoins has skyrocketed to $765 million.
Court Ruling
High Court Judge Keyser KC ruled that the excavation of the landfill could pose serious environmental risks, dismissing Howells' claim for excavation or compensation. The judge cited the Control of Pollution Act 1974, which states that any waste delivered to the authority belongs to them. Howells had argued that the law did not imply he lost ownership, but the judge disagreed, emphasizing the unqualified ownership transfer to the council.
Statute of Limitations
Additionally, the claim was barred by a six-year statute of limitations, as Howells was aware of the situation by November 2013 but did not file until May 2024. The judge did not address whether the hard drive contained the bitcoins, focusing instead on the ownership and access rights.
Emotional Impact
Howells expressed his frustration, stating, "This ruling has taken everything from me and left me with nothing." He claimed to be willing to share proceeds from the recovery but felt ignored in his attempts to engage with authorities. His ex-girlfriend, who disposed of the hard drive, confirmed that she took it to the dump on his behalf.
The Search for the Hard Drive
Howells believes the hard drive might still be recoverable, despite being buried under 350,000 tonnes of waste. He had proposed a systematic excavation method to locate the hard drive while adhering to safety standards. However, the council maintains that any disturbance at the landfill would violate regulations and pose health risks.
Howells continues to hope for a chance to recover his lost fortune, despite the legal setbacks.
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