Daniel Saracki, the current Mayor of Oldsmar, has filed a defamation lawsuit against his predecessor in office. The complaint was lodged by Saracki on February 3, 2025, in the Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit in Pinellas County, Florida, accusing Eric Seidel of making false and damaging statements about him.

The legal battle between Saracki and Seidel traces back to March 2022 when Saracki won the mayoral election against Seidel. Following his electoral defeat, Seidel initiated a lawsuit against Saracki under case number 23-008210-CI. The tension escalated during a deposition on November 22, 2024, where Seidel’s attorney questioned Saracki regarding a public records violation case. According to the complaint, Seidel subsequently posted on Facebook alleging that Saracki committed perjury during this deposition. In his post, Seidel claimed that Saracki tried to assist an individual suing the city and attempted to conceal his involvement.

Saracki vehemently denies these allegations and asserts that he answered all questions truthfully during the deposition. He accuses Seidel of publishing false statements with reckless disregard for their truthfulness or falsity. “Seidel attended the deposition,” states the complaint, “and thus knew his published statements were false and defamatory.” The lawsuit argues that these accusations have damaged Saracki’s reputation among friends, colleagues, constituents, and the general public while causing him mental anguish and embarrassment.