Some investors who purchased Lehman brothers 100% principal protected notes gave a sigh of relief with a March 2011 ruling which allows them to recover some or all of their now almost worthless investment.

Almost to the end, Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc marketed their ill-fated Lehman brothers 100% principal protected notes, up to a month before going into bankruptcy.

The name seemed to say it all: "100 percent principal protected absolute return barrier notes”. But the reality has proven to be quite another story.