British Father Plans £1 Billion Lawsuit to Recover £275 Million Worth of Bitcoin
A British father, James Howells, is embarking on a legal battle against the Newport City Council in an attempt to recover his lost Bitcoin. Howells intends to sue the council for £1 billion, although his primary goal is simply to retrieve his cryptocurrency.
Refusal from the Newport City Council
Howells has faced resistance from the Newport City Council, who have been uncooperative in helping him locate his lost funds. Despite offering to share the recovered Bitcoin with the council, they have remained stubborn and unresponsive. The dispute has been ongoing for over a decade.
The Lawsuit and Legal Action
In an effort to get the council’s attention and avoid bankruptcy, Howells plans to file a lawsuit against them. If negotiations fail, he will seek permission from the court to search for his hard drive in a landfill site. To support his case, Howells has hired a legal team who have already sent a letter of demand to the council.
The Background Story
In 2014, Howells accidentally disposed of his Bitcoin hard drive during an office clearout. He believes it was thrown away at a landfill in Gwent, Newport. However, the council argues that he lost claim to the drive when it was dumped.
The Challenges Ahead
If successful, Howells will still face significant challenges in retrieving his Bitcoin. A landfill search using X-ray scanning machines and AI technology could take up to twelve months. Nevertheless, Howells has studied aerial photographs of the site and believes he knows where to look.
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