DePauw Sues Hennessee for $3.25M Over Bayou Investment

DePauw University is suing the New York-based firm Hennessee Group for $3.25 million for allegedly providing ill advice that DePauw should invest in Bayou Management, which has recently pled guilty to fraud charges in the Federal Court in White Plains, BusinessWeek Online reports.

The DePauw lawsuit names Lee Hennessee and her husband, Charles Gradante, as defendants. The school is demanding retribution because Hennessee used "untrue statements of material fact," and "falsified" investment-performance results. The school says Hennessee gave it Bayou's track record dating back to 1997, although Bayou did not come to existence until 2003. Hennessee is also accused of forging interviews and background information about Bayou founder, Sam Israel. Before forming Bayou, Hennessee says, Israel was the head trader of Omega Advisers, and made partner in 1994. But that turned out to be false.

Further, Hennessee advised DePauw to invest in Bayou, even though it knew that there was a pending lawsuit against the company brought forth by its employees.

Hennessee's initial investment recommendation of $1 million was made with the hope of 15% to 20% annual returns. Now DePauw is looking to regain the $3.25 million it invested into Bayou, plus 8% interest, the fees the university paid to Hennessee as well as lawyer fees.

"A company that had good track record in its field let us down. That which was promised was not delivered," said Ken Owen, DePauw University spokesman. When reached for comment, Hennessee spokesman Alex Smith-Ryland said he was not aware of the lawsuit and could not provide a comment.