The co-founder of a local energy firm claims that an inner-company rival used a “sham investigation” and whisper campaign about his lifestyle to oust him as CEO.

Michael Duginski started Sentinel Peak Resources in late 2012 alongside George Ciotti. The Denver Tech Center-based company owns $3 billion of oil reserves, primarily in California.

Duginski says the business was doing well and weighing a possible sale when, in December, he was handed a memo that claimed he “exhibited unacceptable behavior in the workplace” and that a preliminary investigation by Sentinel Peak board members had uncovered “a concerning level of inappropriate behaviors that is putting the company at risk.”

Duginski was placed on leave but not told what he had done wrong or to whom, according to a lawsuit he filed

See Full Page