Page 1 of 22

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE

DISTRICT OF COLORADO

JOSEPHINE DUENAS, ) 

)

Plaintiff, )

)

vs. ) No.

)

OPPENHEIMERFUNDS, INC., )

a Colorado Corporation, )

OPPENHEIMERFUNDS DISTRIBUTOR, )

INC., a New York Corporation, and ) JURY TRIAL REQUESTED

ANGELO MANIOUDAKIS, )

)

Defendants. )

COMPLAINT

Plaintiff Josephine Duenas, by and through her attorneys, Stoltmann Law Offices, P.C.

and Higgins & Burke, P.C., brings this Complaint at law against defendants OppenheimerFunds, 

Inc., OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc. and Angelo Manioudakis, and states as follows:

Parties

1. Plaintiff Josephine Duenas (hereinafter “Mrs. Duenas” or “Plaintiff”) is an individual who 

at all times relevant resided in Toms River, New Jersey. As of the date of the filing of this 

complaint, Mrs. Duenas intends to remain in Ne Jersey indefinitely and is domiciled in the 

State of New Jersey.

2. Defendant OppenheimerFunds, Inc. (hereinafter “Defendant” or “OFI”) is a Colorado 

corporation with its principal place of business at 2 World Financial Center, 225 Liberty 

Street, 11th Floor in New York, New York. OFI was the manager and investment advisor 

of the Oppenheimer Champion Income Fund (hereinafter the “Fund” or the “Champion 

Case 1:11-cv-02631-JLK Document 1 Filed 10/07/11 USDC Colorado Page 1 of 22
Page 2 of 22

Income Fund”) and handled the day-to-day management of the Fund at all times relevant. 

OFI earned a fee for its management of the Fund. 

3. Defendant OppenheimerFunds Distributors, Inc. (hereinafter “Defendant” or “OFDI”) is 

a New York corporation with its principal place of business at 2 World Financial Center, 

225 Liberty Street, 11th Floor in New York, New York. OFDI is a subsidiary of OFI and 

was the principal underwriter and distributor of the Champion Income Fund at all times 

relevant. OFDI and OFI are sometimes collectively referred to as “Oppenheimer.”

4. Defendant Angelo Manioudakis (hereinafter “Defendant” or “Defendant Manioudakis”) 

is an individual and resides in Boston, Massachusetts. Defendant Manioudakis is 

believed to be physically present in the State of Massachusetts and domiciled in the State 

of Massachusetts. Defendant Manioudakis was previously the portfolio manager of the 

Champion Income Fund and was employed by OFI and OFDI. Upon information and 

belief, Manioudakis was a Vice-President of OFI. Manioudakis took over the day-to-day 

management of the Fund in late 2006 and was responsible for the Fund’s management 

until his termination in December 2008. 

Jurisdiction and Venue

5. Venue is proper in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado pursuant 

to 28 U.S.C. § 1391 as the Defendants did business in this district, sold investment 

products in this district, and the misleading materials at issue were believed to be 

prepared and drafted in this district.

6. Plaintiff Josephine Duenas is domiciled in the State of New Jersey and is a citizen of the 

State of New Jersey. 

7. Defendant OFI has its principal place of business in the State of New York, is 

Case 1:11-cv-02631-JLK Document 1 Filed 10/07/11 USDC Colorado Page 2 of 22
Page 3 of 22

incorporated under the laws of the State of Colorado, and is therefore a citizen of the 

States of New York and Colorado. Defendant OFDI has its principal place of business in 

the State of New York, is incorporated under the laws of the State of New York, and is 

therefore a citizen of the State of New York. Defendant Manioudakis is domiciled in the 

State of Massachusetts and is a citizen of the State of Massachusetts.

8. This Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 

1332, as there is complete diversity of citizenship between the plaintiff and all 

defendants, and the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000. 

Fact Common to All Counts

9. The Oppenheimer Champion Income Fund is an open-ended management investment 

company registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This Fund sold five 

classes of shares, including Class A, B, C, N, and Y.

10. The Fund has no employees. Instead, the Fund is managed by an investment manager (in 

this case, OFI) under a management contract that is approved by the Fund’s Board of

Trustees. In return, OFI provides employees, including Manioudakis, to act as the Fund’s 

officers and manage the fund. 

11. OFI is responsible for making all day-to-day investment decisions for the Fund, including 

decisions as to what assets the Fund will invest in. Defendant Manioudakis headed the 

team of OFI employees that made these day-to-day decisions for the Fund. 

12. OFDI is the principal underwriter and distributor of the Fund’s shares. OFDI typically 

has selling arrangements with securities broker-dealers who then sell the Fund to 

investors. OFDI helped draft the public offering and registration documents and other 

marketing materials sent to the investing public. 

Case 1:11-cv-02631-JLK Document 1 Filed 10/07/11 USDC Colorado Page 3 of 22
Page 4 of 22

13. Upon information and belief, OFDI had a selling arrangement with Family Investors 

Company to sell Oppenheimer mutual funds to investors. 

14. The Plaintiff purchased shares of the Oppenheimer Champion Income Fund through 

Russell Whittaker of Anchor National Joseph Chemidlin. 

15. Mr. Chemidlin solicited the Plaintiff to invest in the Champion Income Fund from his 

office, which is located in Fanwood, New Jersey. When recommending to the Plaintiff to 

purchase these shares, it is believed that Mr. Chemidlin relied upon information that was 

given to him from OFI and OFDI. 

16. Chemidlin in turn communicated to the Plaintiff in general terms that he believed the 

Champion Income Fund was safe. 

17. The Plaintiff relied upon the information that was given to her by OFI and OFDI when 

deciding to invest in Champion. The Plaintiff believed that this Fund was relatively safe, 

generated high income, and that it had the normal risks associated with a typical high 

yield bond fund. However, the Plaintiff was not aware of the extreme risk that this Fund 

was taking on. 

18. OFI and OFDI substantially misrepresented the highly speculative nature of the 

Champion Income Fund. The risks of this Fund were materially misrepresented to the 

investing public, including the Plaintiff. 

19. Moreover, Manioudakis, as agent for OFI and OFDI, mismanaged the Champion Income 

Fund. He did not invest the Fund’s assets in a safe, prudent manner and recklessly made 

the Fund very risky. 

20. Manioudakis also exceeded the parameters of the Fund as outlined in the Fund’s 

prospectus and Statement of Additional Information when he concentrated the underlying 

Case 1:11-cv-02631-JLK Document 1 Filed 10/07/11 USDC Colorado Page 4 of 22
Page 5 of 22

assets of the Fund in the mortgage industry, and when he used more leverage in the Fund 

than was allowed. 

21. In 2008, the value of the Champion Income Fund’s shares dropped approximately 80 

percent, with staggering losses of nearly 55% in the month of November 2008 alone. As 

the value of these shares fell, so did the value of each of the Plaintiff’s investment in the 

Champion Income Fund.

22. The Champion Income Fund was portrayed by the Defendants as a relatively safe bond 

mutual fund that did not involve “undue risk.” For example, the August 7, 2006 

prospectus states:

WHAT ARE THE FUND’S INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES? The Fund’s primary 

objective is to seek a high level of current income by investing mainly in a diversified 

portfolio of high-yield, lower-grade, fixed-income securities that the Fund’s investment 

manager, OppenheimerFunds, Inc. (the “Manager”), believes do not involve undue risk. 

The Fund’s secondary objective is to seek capital growth when consistent with its 

primary objective. 

* * *

WHO IS THE FUND DESIGNED FOR? The Fund is designed primarily for investors 

seeking high current income from a fund that invests mainly in lower-grade domestic and 

foreign fixed-income debt securities. Those investors should be willing to assume the 

greater risks of short-term share price fluctuations that are typical for a fund that invests 

mainly in high-yield domestic and foreign fixed-income debt securities, which also have 

special credit risks. Since the Fund’s income level will fluctuate, it is not designed for 

investors needing an assured level of current income. The Fund is intended to be a longterm investment and may be appropriate as a part of a retirement plan portfolio. The 

Fund is not a complete investment program.

See August 7, 2006 Prospectus (emphasis added). 

23. Similar representations were made in prospectuses as far back as January 2001 and up 

through and including January 2008. The prospectuses make no disclosures that this 

Champion Income Fund was dramatically riskier than the peer group of high yield bond 

Case 1:11-cv-02631-JLK Document 1 Filed 10/07/11 USDC Colorado Page 5 of 22
Page 6 of 22

mutual funds. 

24. The Defendants portrayed the Fund to be a conservative or safe bond fund. As an 

example, as of December 31, 2007, the Oppenheimer Conservative Investor Fund had 

approximately 11% of its internal holdings invested in the Champion Income Fund. 

25. OFI and OFDI portrayed a high-yield fixed-income mutual fund to be relatively safe to 

the investing public. For example, in an Oppenheimer brochure entitled “Saving for 

Retirement: How to Make the Most of Your Company’s Plan” dated February 21, 2005, 

Oppenheimer compared high-yield fixed-income mutual funds to other equity-based 

mutual funds. This article is attached hereto and incorporated by reference as Exhibit 1. 

Page 13 of this article presents a chart showing the relative degrees of risk in a mutual 

fund – from cash as being the most conservative to global and international equity mutual 

funds being the most aggressive and riskiest mutual funds. The chart shows that 

Oppenheimer considers high-yield fixed-income mutual funds (like the Champion 

Income Fund) to be less aggressive and more conservative than any equity mutual funds. 

26. The Champion Income Fund was anything but safe, and any representations to the 

contrary made by the Defendants were false.

27. The Defendants failed to accurately represent the risks and characteristics of the 

Champion Income Fund and misled investors, including the Plaintiff. 

28. The representations made by the Defendants were false and misleading for a number of 

reasons:

a) The Fund pursued risky trading strategies beginning in late 2006 when Defendant 

Manioudakis started concentrating the Fund’s assets in speculative mortgage-backed 

securities and derivative investments;

Case 1:11-cv-02631-JLK Document 1 Filed 10/07/11 USDC Colorado Page 6 of 22
Page 7 of 22

b) The Fund’s strategy created an undue amount of risk and did not adequately 

disclose the illiquid nature of these derivatives and mortgage-backed securities;

c) The Fund failed to disclose the extent to which the assets in the Fund were 

exposed to leverage, thereby increasing the risk; 

d) The Fund failed to disclose the risks related to concentrating the Fund’s assets in 

one particular industry or in one type of investment; 

e) The Fund exceeded the allowable amount of “illiquid” or “restricted” securities 

that the Fund could invest in; and

f) The Fund did not identify the tranches of the derivatives being purchased by the 

Fund and failed to address the significantly different risks and characteristics of lowerlevel tranches as compared to higher-level tranches. 

29. The Fund’s new trading strategy beginning at the end of 2006 and continuing through the 

end of 2008 gambled on these derivatives and mortgage-backed securities, but the 

Defendants failed to adequately inform investors of this new strategy. The Defendants 

failed to inform the Plaintiff and other investors that this new trading strategy was 

dramatically riskier than those previously used. 

30. As part of this new strategy, the Champion Income Fund began investing in total-return 

swaps. Total-return swaps are highly illiquid, speculative and complex agreements 

between parties to exchange cash flows in the future based on how a set of securities 

performs. Specifically, the Fund was betting that top-rated commercial mortgage-backed 

securities would rally in 2008. The Fund gambled on these total-return swaps and lost. 

31. In addition to investing in total-return swaps as part of this new trading strategy, the 

Champion Income Fund was also concentrated in credit-default swaps (“CDSs”). CDSs 

Case 1:11-cv-02631-JLK Document 1 Filed 10/07/11 USDC Colorado Page 7 of 22
Page 8 of 22

are similar to insurance contracts that protect investors against bond and loan defaults (or 

other specified credit events like bankruptcy or restructuring). In exchange for being 

responsible to pay out for such issues, CDS sellers receive a stream of interest payments 

from the CDS buyers. It is not necessary for the buyer to own the underlying credit 

instrument to buy these CDSs. The CDSs in the Champion Fund declined $238 

million through September 2008 alone, adversely impacting thousands of investors 

who had invested in the Champion Income Fund not knowing the extent of the high-risk, 

inappropriate gamble taken by the Defendants.

32. Selling CDSs is extremely risky and speculative when insuring companies are already 

struggling with credit problems. Through at least September 2008, the Fund was selling 

CDSs on troubled companies including Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., American 

International Group Inc., General Motors Corp. and newspaper company Tribune Co. 

Many of those firms have collapsed, filed for bankruptcy, or otherwise had problems 

leaving holders of the Champion Income Fund financially devastated. The risks of these 

securities were well known to the Champion Income Fund managers prior to the Fund’s

meltdown occurring, but the extent of this risk was not adequately disclosed to the 

Plaintiff. 

33. While the Champion Income Fund can invest in derivatives, the Fund took a massive bet 

in some of the riskiest derivative tranches available. These risks were not adequately 

disclosed to purchasers in any other manner than cursory, boilerplate disclosures. No 

specific detailed risk disclosures were provided. These derivatives added leverage to the 

Fund because they allowed the Fund to bet on more securities than they actually hold in 

the portfolio. This exacerbated losses when the Fund was already declining. The risks of 

Case 1:11-cv-02631-JLK Document 1 Filed 10/07/11 USDC Colorado Page 8 of 22
Page 9 of 22

the Fund made them much more similar to hedge funds than the high and aggregate

income funds they were portrayed to clients in offering and marketing materials. 

34. The Champion Income Fund also increased its gamble on falling mortgage related bonds 

in 2008. For example, mortgage securities tied to Washington Mutual Inc. with a $9 

million principal value were valued at only $3 million at the end of September 2008. A 

set of five Freddie Mac mortgage-backed securities with a combined principal amount of 

$20 million were valued at just $2.5 million. As defaults continued to rise, the mortgage 

related holdings plummeted. While this sort of sector bet might be appropriate for a 

sector fund or hedge fund, the Champion Income Fund was not meant to be a sector or 

hedge fund and was represented to investors as an appropriate investment for 

conservative investors. 

35. The Champion Income Fund’s trading strategy exacerbated its losses when it made a

sector bet in struggling Wall Street brokerage firms. For example, the Fund purchased 

Lehman Brothers bonds between June 1, 2008 and September 30, 2008 with $29 million 

in principal value. Lehman Brothers filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy-court protection in 

mid-September 2008, and those bonds fell to just $144,000. The Champion Income Fund 

also added Morgan Stanley bonds with $13 million in principal during that period. The 

bonds were valued at approximately $8.3 million by the end of September 2008. These 

investments may have been appropriate for a financial sector fund or aggressive growth 

fund but not for what was portrayed as a conservative bond fund. 

36. Pursuant to the parameters of the Fund as set forth in its prospectuses and Statements of 

Additional Information, the Fund was allowed borrow money up to 33.3% in excess of 

the total value of its assets. However, the Fund exceeded this amount and were overCase 1:11-cv-02631-JLK Document 1 Filed 10/07/11 USDC Colorado Page 9 of 22
Page 10 of 22

leveraged. “Leverage” refers to the use of borrowed money an in investing in effort to 

increase the Fund’s returns; however, with a potential in this increased return also comes 

increased risk. The credit default swaps, total return swaps, and derivatives that the Fund 

invested in were also leveraged.

37. This increased leverage meant that the Fund took on substantially more risk than what 

was allowed. When the value of the leveraged assets within the Fund dropped, this 

exacerbated the losses. 

38. For example, it is believed that the Champion Income Fund had approximately $2 billion 

in net assets in March 2008. It is also believed that the Champion Income Fund had used 

$3.2 billion of leverage through the use of these derivatives. Thus, the Champion Income 

Fund borrowed more than 100% of its total value of assets, significantly higher than the 

33.3% that was allowed. 

39. Similarly, the Champion Income Fund was allowed to invest up to 25% of its assets in 

one industry. However, it is believed that the Champion Income Fund had a huge overconcentration in the mortgage industry, well above this 25% amount. Again, 

Manioudakis invested the assets of the Fund beyond what was allowed. 

40. Likewise, the Champion Income Fund was allowed to invest up to 10% of its assets in 

“illiquid” or “restricted” securities – securities which have no active trading market, 

making it difficult to dispose of them promptly or at an acceptable price. Manioudakis 

invested the Fund’s assets in illiquid or restricted securities beyond this 10% threshold, in 

violation of the prospectus and Statement of Additional Information. 

41. The Defendants are likely to argue that the 2008 subprime mortgage collapse affected the 

market as a whole. However, a comparison of the Champion Fund to aggregate bond 

Case 1:11-cv-02631-JLK Document 1 Filed 10/07/11 USDC Colorado Page 10 of 22
Page 11 of 22

indices shows how horrific the Champion Income Fund’s performance was. For 

example, compare the class A shares of the Champion Income Fund to Lehman Brothers’ 

Aggregate Bond Index in the chart below:

Mrs. Duenas’ Investments

42. Mrs. Duenas invested in the Oppenheimer High Yield Fund. Mrs. Duenas then

purchased 17,197.040 shares of the Champion Income Fund for an investment of 

$160,964.29 on October 17, 2006 when her High Yield Fund shares converted into 

Champion Income Fund A Shares.

43. Mrs. Duenas also reinvested her dividends. 

44. To date, Mrs. Duenas has lost approximately $130,000 in the Champion Income Fund.

45. In a letter dated September 26, 2008, John Murphy, the Chairman and CEO of OFI sent a 

letter out to the Oppenheimer clients, including those like the Plaintiff who invested in 

Case 1:11-cv-02631-JLK Document 1 Filed 10/07/11 USDC Colorado Page 11 of 22
Page 12 of 22

the Champion Income Fund. This letter encouraged investors to stay invested in the 

Oppenheimer mutual funds, even as they continued to plummet in value. The letter 

states:

You and I, along with mutual fund investors across the country are facing the most 

challenging market environment in recent memory. Each day, it seems we awake to a 

new distressing headline. This can make it all too easy to become swept up by the 

panic of the moment, lose sight of our long-term goals and abandon our wellconsidered financial strategies.

The importance of discipline

Unfortunately, I can’t say for sure when the markets will regain their footing. However, 

I can tell you that times of uncertainty are not times to make dramatic shifts in your 

portfolio. Historically speaking, those who have had the discipline and perseverance 

to stick to their objectives and maintain a well-diversified portfolio have ultimately 

been rewarded.

That’s why our investments teams, composed of experienced analysts and portfolio 

managers, operate with a long-term view of the economy and the financial markets. 

Rather than reacting to short-term events, or chasing performance, they take a 

steady, measured approach to portfolio management. Each fund’s management team 

adheres to the mandates laid out in the fund’s prospectus and the investment strategies 

that have created value for shareholders over time.

Remember: You’re not in this alone

At OppenheimerFunds, we recognize that you have entrusted your money to us as part of 

a strategy to build a sound financial future. This is a trust we take very seriously and one 

with which we can identify. Our employees and their families, as well as the 

Trustees/Directors of the Oppenheimer funds, have over $3 billion of their money 

invested alongside yours in the Oppenheimer funds. We work diligently so that our 

shared investments may help us all attain our financial goals. 

A copy of this September 26, 2008 letter is attached hereto as Exhibit 2 (emphasis 

added). 

46. Representations like this caused the Plaintiff and other investors to stay invested in the 

Champion Income Fund, and caused them to incur further losses as the value of 

Champion substantially decreased.

47. Based on the information provided by OFI and OFDI, Mrs. Duenas believed that there 

Case 1:11-cv-02631-JLK Document 1 Filed 10/07/11 USDC Colorado Page 12 of 22
Page 13 of 22

was minimal risk in the Champion Income Fund. 

COUNT I – New Jersey Uniform Securities Law of 1997

(Plaintiff v. All Defendants)

48. Plaintiff Josephine Duenas restates and realleges paragraphs 1 through 47 as though fully 

stated herein as paragraph 48.

49. At all times material herein, there existed in the New Jersey Uniform Securities Law of 

1997, Section 49:3-47 et seq. (“NJUSL”). Section 49:3-52 of the NJSUL states in part 

that:

It shall be unlawful for any person, in connection with the offer, sale, or 

purchase of any security, directly or indirectly

(a) To employ any device, scheme, or artifice to defraud;

(b) To make any untrue statement of a material fact or to omit to state a 

material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in the light 

of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading;

(c) To engage in any act, practice, or course of business which operates or 

would operate as a fraud or deceit upon any person;

(d) To fail to deliver the prospectus filed under the "Securities Act of 

1933" to each purchaser of a security registered under that act, in 

accordance with the prospectus delivery requirements of that act.

See N.J. Stat. § 49:3-52.

50. Section 49:3-71 of the NJUSL provides: 

(a) Any person who

(1) Offers, sells or purchases a security in violation of subsection (b) of 

section 8, subsection (a) of section 9 or section 13 of P.L. 1967, c. 93 (C. 

49:3-55, 49:3-56, or 49:3-60), or

(2) Offers, sells or purchases a security by means of any untrue statement 

of material fact or any omission to state a material fact necessary in order 

to make the statements made, in the light of the circumstances under 

which they are made, not misleading (the buyer not knowing of the 

Case 1:11-cv-02631-JLK Document 1 Filed 10/07/11 USDC Colorado Page 13 of 22
Page 14 of 22

untruth or omission), or

(3) offers, sells or purchases a security by employing any device, scheme, 

or artifice to defraud, or

(4) offers, sells or purchases a security by engaging in any act, practice or 

course of business which operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit 

upon any person . . . 

(5) engages in the business of advising others, for compensation, either 

directly or through publications or writings, as to the value of securities, or 

as to the advisability of investing in, purchasing or selling securities, or 

who, for compensation and as a part of a regular business, issues or 

promulgates analyses or reports concerning securities (i) in willful 

violation of this act or of any rule or order promulgated pursuant to this 

act, or (ii) employs any device, scheme or artifice to defraud the other 

person or engages in any act, practice or course of business or conduct 

which operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit on the other person, 

is liable as set forth in subsection (c) of this section;

(c) Any person who offered, sold or purchased a security or engaged in the 

business of giving investment advice to a person in violation of paragraph (1), (2), 

(3), (4) or (5) of subsection (a) of this section is liable to that person, who may 

bring an action either at law or in equity to recover the consideration paid for the 

security or the investment advice and any loss due to the advice, together with 

interest set at the rate established for interest on judgments for the same period by 

the Rules Governing the Courts of the State of New Jersey from the date of 

payment of the consideration for the investment advice or security, and costs, less 

the amount of any income received on the security, upon the tender of the security 

and any income received from the investment advice or on the security, or for 

damages if he no longer owns the security. Damages are the amount that would be 

recoverable upon a tender less the value of the security when the buyer disposed 

of it and interest at the rate established for interest on judgments for the same 

period by the Rules Governing the Courts of the State of New Jersey from the 

date of disposition;

See N.J. Stat. § 49:3-71 (2007) (emphasis added).

51. At all times mentioned herein the investments in the Champion Income Fund were 

“securities” within the definitions of the NJUSL. 

52. Defendants used deception, false promises, and misrepresentations to hide the full risks 

of the Champion Income Fund.

Case 1:11-cv-02631-JLK Document 1 Filed 10/07/11 USDC Colorado Page 14 of 22
Page 15 of 22

53. Defendants, with knowledge of, or with unreasonable disregard for the truth, participated 

in a course of conduct whereby Plaintiff’s funds were placed in jeopardy, then lost due to 

improper investments in extremely speculative securities. Defendants knew, or should 

have known of the risks associated in putting Plaintiff's funds in these speculative 

securities. 

54. By reason of the conduct alleged herein, Defendants knowingly and/or recklessly, 

directly and indirectly have violated the UUSA in that they made untrue statements of 

material facts, and omitted to state material facts necessary in order to make their 

statements, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, 

and engaged in a practice that worked a fraud or deceit on the Plaintiff.

55. Moreover, the Defendants invested the Fund’s assets outside of the permissible 

parameters of the Fund by investing in too much illiquid or restricted securities, by 

investing too much in one industry, and by investing with too much leverage. 

56. Defendants intentionally and fraudulently concealed that the level of risk and speculative 

nature of the derivatives and mortgage backed securities in which the Fund was 

concentrated. 

57. The false and fraudulent statements regarding the risks and characteristics of the 

Champion Income Fund constituted a scheme to defraud pursuant to the UUSA.

58. It was the intention of the Defendants that the Plaintiff rely on these false statements and 

representations.

59. The Plaintiff reasonably and justifiably relied on the truth of the statements made by 

Defendants when she initially invested in the Fund, when she made additional purchases 

in the Fund, and when she continued to stay invested in the Fund. 

Case 1:11-cv-02631-JLK Document 1 Filed 10/07/11 USDC Colorado Page 15 of 22
Page 16 of 22

60. As a direct and proximate result of Defendants’ fraudulent course of conduct, the Plaintiff 

suffered financial damage in an amount in excess of $130,000 plus loss of interest.

61. Defendants OFI and OFDI should be jointly and severally liable to the same extent as 

Defendant Manioudakis, as OFI and OFDI directly and indirectly controlled

Manioudakis’ conduct and actions.

WHEREFORE, the plaintiff prays for judgment against the defendants for:

a. actual damages, pursuant to N.J. Stat. § 49:3-71;

b. Interest, pursuant to N.J. Stat. § 49:3-71;

c. costs, pursuant to N.J. Stat. § 49:3-71;

d. attorneys’ fees; and

e. such other and further remedy that the Court deems just and equitable.

COUNT II - Common Law Fraud

(Plaintiff v. All Defendants)

62. Plaintiff Josephine Duenas and realleges paragraphs 1 through 61 as though fully stated 

herein as paragraph 62.

63. The Defendants misrepresented the level of risk associated with the Champion Income 

Fund by portraying the Fund as not having “undue risk”, by representing that it would be 

“appropriate as a part of a retirement plan portfolio”, and by representing the Fund as 

being well-diversified.

64. In fact, the Champion Income Fund was extraordinarily risky and lost approximately 

80% of its value in less than one year. 

65. The Defendants knew the aforesaid statements were false at the time they were made to 

Plaintiff.

Case 1:11-cv-02631-JLK Document 1 Filed 10/07/11 USDC Colorado Page 16 of 22
Page 17 of 22

66. The Defendants made the false statements with the intent to induce the Plaintiff to invest 

money in this Fund and to keep the money invested in the Fund as the Fund took on 

excessive risk. 

67. The Plaintiff relied on the truth of the statements made by Defendants when she initially 

invested in both Funds, when she made additional purchases in the Fund, and when she 

continued to stay invested in the Champion Income Fund. 

68. As a result of the reliance on the aforesaid false statements, the plaintiff suffered financial 

loss.

69. Furthermore, Defendants conduct was willful and malicious and a violation of trust and 

confidence.

WHEREFORE, the plaintiff prays for judgment against the defendants for:

a. actual damages;

b. attorney fees;

c. reasonable costs; and 

d. any other remedy that the Court deems just and equitable.

COUNT III – Negligent Misrepresentation

(Plaintiff v. All Defendants)

70. Plaintiff Josephine Duenas restates and realleges paragraphs 1 through 69 as though fully 

stated herein as paragraph 70. 

71. The Defendants are in the business of supplying information in that they provide 

information (albeit, incomplete and misleading information) to investors to make 

decisions about the funds that they are purchasing.

72. The Defendants had a duty to supply accurate information to the Plaintiff about the risks 

Case 1:11-cv-02631-JLK Document 1 Filed 10/07/11 USDC Colorado Page 17 of 22
Page 18 of 22

and characteristics of the Champion Income Fund.

73. The Defendants failed that duty to supply accurate information and misrepresented the 

level of risk associated with this Fund by portraying them as not having “undue risk”, by 

representing that it would be “appropriate as a part of a retirement plan portfolio”, and by 

representing the Fund as being well-diversified. 

74. The aforementioned statements were false and misleading.

75. The Defendants made the false statements with the intent to induce the Plaintiff to invest 

money in the Champion Income Fund and to keep the money invested in the Fund as the 

Fund took on excessive risk. 

76. The Plaintiff relied on the truth of the statements made by Defendants when she initially 

invested in the Fund, when she made additional purchases in the Fund, and when she 

continued to stay invested in the Champion Income Fund. 

77. As a direct and proximate result of the reliance on the aforesaid false statements, the 

plaintiff suffered financial loss.

WHEREFORE, the plaintiff prays for judgment against the defendants for:

a. actual damages;

b. attorney fees;

c. reasonable costs; and 

d. any other remedy that the Court deems just and equitable.

COUNT IV – Negligent Supervision

(Plaintiff v. OFI and OFDI)

78. Plaintiff Josephine Duenas restates and realleges paragraphs 1 through 77 as though fully 

stated herein as paragraph 78. 

Case 1:11-cv-02631-JLK Document 1 Filed 10/07/11 USDC Colorado Page 18 of 22
Page 19 of 22

79. At all times relevant, Defendants OFI and OFDI had duties to supervise its agents and 

registered representatives, including Defendant Manioudakis, to protect their customers.

80. Defendants OFI and OFDI had a duty to provide procedures and policies to supervise 

Manioudakis to ensure that he invested the Fund’s assets properly and within the confines 

of the Fund’s investment parameters as outlined in the Fund’s Prospectuses and 

Statements of Additional Information.

81. Defendants OFI and OFDI breached its duty to its customers, including Plaintiff, by the 

following acts or omissions:

a. Failing to adequately supervise Defendant Manioudakis;

b. Failing to establish adequate and/or written procedures to supervise and monitor 

the conduct of Defendant Manioudakis;

c. Failing to enforce its supervisory procedures and policies to monitor the conduct 

of Defendant Manioudakis; and

d. Failing to ensure that Manioudakis’ trading strategy was proper in light of the 

investment objectives of the Fund.

82. As a direct and proximate result of Defendant OFI’s and OFDI’s breach of their duties, 

the plaintiff suffered financial damage, plus loss of interest.

WHEREFORE, the plaintiff prays for judgment against the defendants for:

a. actual damages;

b. attorney fees;

c. reasonable costs; and 

d. any other remedy that the Court deems just and equitable.

Case 1:11-cv-02631-JLK Document 1 Filed 10/07/11 USDC Colorado Page 19 of 22
Page 20 of 22

COUNT V – Colorado Consumer Protection Act

(Plaintiff v. All Defendants)

83. Plaintiff Josephine Duenas restates and realleges paragraphs 1 through 82 as though fully 

stated herein as paragraph 83.

84. At all times material herein, there existed in the State of Colorado, a statute entitled the 

Consumer Protection Act (“CPA”), C.R.S. § 6-1-101 et seq, which provides:

(e) Knowingly makes a false representation as to the characteristics, ingredients, uses, 

benefits, alterations, or quantities of goods, food, services, or property or a false 

representation as to the sponsorship, approval, status, affiliation, or connection of a 

person therewith;

*** 

(g) Represents that goods, food, services, or property are of a particular standard, quality, 

or grade, or that goods are of a particular style or model, if he knows or should know that 

they are of another;

*** 

(u) Fails to disclose material information concerning goods, services, or property which 

information was known at the time of an advertisement or sale if such failure to disclose 

such information was intended to induce the consumer to enter into a transaction.

C.R.S. § 6-1-105 (2008).

85. Defendants used deception, false promises, and misrepresentations to hide the full risks 

of the Champion Income Fund.

86. Moreover, the Defendants invested the Fund’s assets outside of the permissible 

parameters of the Fund by investing in too much illiquid or restricted securities, by 

investing too much in one industry, and by investing with too much leverage. This also 

constitutes deceptive or unfair practices in violation of the Consumer Protection Act.

87. Defendants intentionally and fraudulently concealed that the level of risk and speculative 

nature of the derivatives and mortgage backed securities in which the Champion Income 

Fund were concentrated. 

88. This deceptive practices were made in the course of the Defendants’ business, which is to 

Case 1:11-cv-02631-JLK Document 1 Filed 10/07/11 USDC Colorado Page 20 of 22
Page 21 of 22

manage, sell, and distribute financial products like the Champion Income Fund.

89. The losses in the Champion Income Fund not only affected to the Plaintiff, but it affected 

thousands of other investors. This deceptive practice significantly impacted the public as 

actual consumers of the Defendants’ products and services.

90. The false and fraudulent statements regarding the risks and characteristics of the Fund

constituted a deceptive act or practice pursuant to the Consumer Fraud Act.

91. The aforesaid course of conduct of the Defendants arose out the Plaintiff’s dealings with 

Defendants in pursuit of financial security, and as such, was involved in trade or 

commerce.

92. It was the intention of the Defendants that the Plaintiff rely on these false statements and 

representations.

93. As a direct and proximate result of Defendants’ fraudulent course of conduct, the Plaintiff 

suffered financial damage in an amount in excess of $130,000 plus loss of interest.

WHEREFORE, the plaintiff prays for judgment against the defendants for:

a. actual damages, pursuant to C.R.S. § 6-1-113;

b. treble damages, pursuant to C.R.S. § 6-1-113;

c. attorney fees, pursuant to C.R.S. § 6-1-113;

d. reasonable costs, pursuant to C.R.S. § 6-1-113: and 

e. such other and further remedy that the Court deems just and equitable.

DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL

The Plaintiff hereby demands a trial by jury on all issues so triable.

Case 1:11-cv-02631-JLK Document 1 Filed 10/07/11 USDC Colorado Page 21 of 22
Page 22 of 22

Respectfully Submitted,

s/ David Neuman_______________________

One of the Plaintiff’s Attorneys

David Neuman

Stoltmann Law Offices, P.C.

10 S. LaSalle St., Suite 3500

Chicago, IL 60603

Tel: (312) 332-4200

Fax: (312) 332-4201

daveneuman@stoltlaw.com

Case 1:11-cv-02631-JLK Document 1 Filed 10/07/11 USDC Colorado Page 22 of 22