James Howells, a software engineer from Newport, Wales, has filed a lawsuit against Newport City Council after they repeatedly refused his request to excavate a local landfill. The reason? Howells is trying to recover a hard drive he accidentally discarded in 2013, which contains an estimated 8,000 Bitcoin (BTC)—now worth over $500 million.

The Lawsuit and Its Purpose

Howells is seeking roughly £495.31 million ($647 million) in damages, not as a direct claim for compensation but as a way to pressure the council into allowing him to conduct the excavation. According to Howells, his legal action is more of a last-ditch effort to convince the council rather than an attempt to recoup the entire value of the lost Bitcoin. He has proposed to carry out the excavation at no cost to the council and even offered them 10% of any recovered Bitcoin as a goodwill gesture. Despite these offers, Newport City Council has maintained its refusal, citing environmental concerns and dismissing the lawsuit as weak.

The Bitcoin Backstory

The hard drive, containing what would be a fortune today, was accidentally thrown out by Howells in 2013 during an office cleanup. At that time, Bitcoin was still in its early stages, and the value of the cryptocurrency was significantly lower than it is now. Fast forward to today, and the 8,000 BTCs on that drive have an estimated market value of $514.37 million, based on the current Bitcoin price of around $64,296 per unit.

Newport City Council’s reluctance to approve the excavation stems from concerns over the environmental impact of digging into the landfill. The council believes that any excavation could cause significant disruption, potentially releasing harmful waste or pollutants. The case is set for a hearing in December, where Howells hopes to persuade the court to overrule the council’s decision and allow him to proceed with the recovery operation. Howells has assembled a team of specialists to handle the excavation, ensuring that any environmental risks are minimized.

Why It Matters

The bizarre situation highlights both the volatility of Bitcoin and the potential consequences of human error in the digital age. For Howells, it’s a quest to recover a life-changing sum of money that was once considered worthless. The outcome of the lawsuit will not only determine whether he gets a shot at recovering his Bitcoin but could also set a precedent for similar cases in the future. As the court date approaches, the world watches to see whether Howells’ half-billion-dollar fortune will remain buried in a landfill or if he’ll finally get a chance to reclaim it.