Collier County School Board member sues Rep. Byron Donalds over grocery store confrontation

A yearslong feud between a Collier County School Board member and a U.S. representative's family has taken another dramatic turn.

Kelly Mason has filed a new lawsuit accusing U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds of threatening her during a confrontation inside a Collier County grocery store, an encounter captured on video.

The civil lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Collier County Circuit Court, accuses Donalds of assault, alleging he threatened and intimidated Mason during a confrontation inside the Seed to Table grocery store on Aug. 23, 2022. Mason claimed Donalds demanded that she drop a previous lawsuit against his wife, Erika Donalds. Mason and Erika were formerly business partners.

Mason is seeking compensatory and punitive damages.

Video reviewed by Gulf Coast News shows Donalds loudly confronting Mason inside the grocery store. At one point, he shouts, "Stop the lawsuits, Kelly, stop that.”

Gulf Coast News has reached out to Donalds for comment and will provide updates once a response is received.