FRESNO — A Bitcoin owner is suing a Fresno County company, alleging breach of contract, fraud and misrepresentation.
Rhett Creighton filed a complaint Dec. 1 in Fresno County Superior Court against Michael Marsee, BTC Guild and Does 1 through 50, alleging the defendants disposed substantial portions of Bitcoin and lost the property.
According to the complaint, in October 2011, Creighton formed a relationship with Marsee in which he would use his custom computer system Bitcoin to become part of the defendants' network of computers. In July 2017, the suit says, Creighton demanded that Marsee return his property to him. However, the lawsuit states, the defendants shut down its servers and could no longer verify the location Creighton's property, valued at $280,000.
Creighton alleges the defendants took ownership of his property so that it could utilize his systems for its own personal benefit.
The plaintiff alleges the defendants conspired with multiple individuals to develop a system in which they could maintain and store property without any intention of ever returning the property to the rightful owners.
Creighton seeks trial by jury, general, special and punitive damages, restoring to the plaintiff all sums unjustly withheld, pre- and post-judgment interest, court costs, attorney fees, and all other relief the court deems just and proper. He is represented by attorney Brian D. Pastore of Mathew & George in Los Angeles.
Fresno County Superior Court case number 17CECG04130