First Brands’ Brothers Say They’ll Blame Each Other at Trial

Markets Contact us:Provide news feedback or report an error Confidential tip?Send a tip to our reporters Site feedback:Take our Survey By Jonathan Randles October 7, 2026 at 8:05 PM UTC Takeaways by Bloomberg AI The two brothers who built First Brands Group into a global business, and whom prosecutors accuse of driving it into bankruptcy through a multibillion-dollar fraud, are now pointing the finger at each other. Lawyers for Patrick and Edward James say in court papers that each plans to blame the other as part of his defense against the criminal charges. They asked a federal judge last month to separate their trials, which are scheduled for February in Manhattan. Both have pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing.