The Securities and Exchange Commission has filed a $1.2 million claim in SandRidge Energy Inc.'s bankruptcy case relating the company's firing of a whistleblower who alleged the company had inflated its oil and natural gas reserves, the Oklahoman reported today. The claim comes as the SEC has announced several fines of companies that have run afoul of federal securities regulations that protect whistleblowers. SandRidge, which first disclosed the investigation in securities filings earlier this year, provided more information in a quarterly filing on Monday. The company said that it is cooperating with the investigation. The audit committee of the company's board of directors has hired an independent law firm to look into the former employee's allegations.
