A UK court has denied James Howell, who sought to recover £600 million worth of bitcoin lost years ago.
The Bitcoin Case of James Howell
James Howell, an early Bitcoin investor, claimed he accidentally discarded a hard drive with 7,500 BTC in 2013. Newport City Council argued the hard drive became its property under waste disposal laws. The court clarified environmental permits prohibited landfill excavation for retrieval.
James Howell and His Regrets
Howell noted the value of the 7,500 BTC he purchased years ago had significantly increased, prompting his intensified recovery efforts. At the court's ruling, Bitcoin's price was about $95,000.
Court Ruling
Judge Keyser KC rejected Howell's claim, citing lack of reasonable grounds and low success probability. Newport City Council denied landfill access due to legal restrictions. Current permits make excavating the landfill, containing over 1.4 million tons of waste, unfeasible.
After years of legal struggles, James Howell can no longer request landfill sifting. Despite the potential of a significant Bitcoin find, environmental damage is the court's primary motivation for rejection.
