A Lake County Republican Party meeting at the Venetian Center on Aug. 18 ended in conflict, with claims of physical injury, threats of arrest and now a civil lawsuit.

Precinct committeewoman Autumn Jacunski has filed suit against the Lake County Republican Party and its vice chairman, Michael Trainor, alleging that Trainor “slammed the steel door shut on her, pinning her hand and crushing it against the frame.” The complaint states Jacunski “screamed in pain and was treated by three paramedics who responded from Leesburg EMS,” before spending “many hours” in the emergency room at UF Hospital in Leesburg.

The filing, submitted by attorney and Lake County Commissioner Anthony Sabatini, argues that Trainor acted “with violent intent” after being directed by party chairman Taylor Yarkosky “to act as a ‘doorman’ and to ‘block’ anyone who looked ‘troubling’ from going out—or in—of the Leesburg Venetian Center.” The lawsuit seeks damages exceeding $50,000 and includes counts of battery, negligence, and vicarious liability on the part of the Lake County Republican Party.

Sabatini also took to social media to describe the events.

“Me and several other members of the Lake County Republican Party walked up to join the meeting tonight… We were told by Florida Highway Patrol, that each of us would be arrested and thrown in jail if we walked in the building,” he wrote. He added that troopers said members were “pre-trespassed from the building and should be arrested if we walk in.”

Anthony claimed that long-standing members were also blocked from attending. “I’ve never seen anything like this at all… We will be filing a lawsuit,” he posted.

He further alleged that Jacunski “had her hand slammed in a door by the vice chairman of the Lake County Republican Party, and nearly broken — and ended up in the emergency room for 3 hours.” In the same post, Sabatini accused Yarkosky of ordering Trainor to “physically block” Jacunski from entering despite her being a current member.

In another update, Sabatini confirmed: “Today we filed a lawsuit against the Lake County Republican Party & their Vice-Chairman Mike Trainor for civil battery and negligence for directing their vice-chairman to act as a ‘bouncer’ and ‘door man,’ and specifically for him to slam the door on members ‘who are critical’ of the Chairman of the party.”

The complaint states Jacunski continues to suffer pain and requires extended treatment, including chiropractic care for her hand and wrist. It also requests punitive damages, citing “especially egregious behavior” and alleging Trainor acted with “specific intent to harm” because of her political viewpoints.

As of now, the Lake County Republican Party has not issued a response to the lawsuit.