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Dolly Parton's Estate Dismisses Lawsuit Against Nephew Bryan Seaver
Confirmed
In Short: Dolly Parton’s estate, managed by her longtime manager Danny Nozell, has dismissed its lawsuit against her nephew Bryan Seaver without prejudice, meaning the case could be refiled in the future.
Seaver, who worked as Parton’s head of security for over 20 years before being dismissed, was accused of making threats and extortion in court filings.
The estate had sought an injunction to prevent Seaver from interfering with Parton’s business operations, but Seaver’s financial inheritance was never at issue in the legal case.
Seaver’s attorneys wrote in a court filing last week that they had been engaged in good faith discussions to resolve the matter.
Seaver described himself as a 'career soldier and military contractor' who conducts arms deals for foreign governments, and claimed his 'pay me' remark referred to $251,000 owed for security services.
In a statement to ABC News, Seaver said the temporary restraining order was 'spurious and simply a publicity stunt.'
Seaver’s attorney, Scott Rahn, told Billboard that the estate’s quick action was a sign that Parton had put the right people in place to manage her affairs.
Parton’s estate had alleged Seaver had been trying to extort money since her death by sending violent threats like 'I’m a killer' and 'all I do is warfare.'
Seaver’s attorney said in a statement that Seaver cares deeply about his aunt, her music, and her family, and remains committed to ensuring her legacy remains untouched.
Background
Progressive Twitch influencer Hasan Piker filed a $72.5 million defamation lawsuit against CNN commentator Scott Jennings on Tuesday, alleging Jennings falsely accused him of advocating for the lynching of Black Americans.
What's confirmed
- It was Seaver who announced Parton’s death to the world on Aug. 25.
- "Mr. Seaver cares deeply about his Aunt Dolly, her music, her family, and the incredible legacy she left behind. He has made a career out of protecting his aunt while she was alive and remains committed to Dolly and his entire family. Mr. Seaver is grateful to put this misunderstanding behind him so that the entire family can continue to grieve peacefully and ensure that the bright light of Dolly's legacy remains entirely untouched."
What's still developing
- “You cannot plan for every possible eventuality,” said Rahn at the time.
- When Parton was alive, she was intentional about planning her estate to avoid the type of infighting that’s roiled grieving families of so many famous artists before her.
- 5) court filing, obtained by Billboard, voluntarily dismisses the Parton estate’s claims against Seaver without prejudice, meaning they could be refiled again in the future.
- “It only takes one to upset the apple cart,” estate attorney Scott Rahn told Billboard when the lawsuit was filed.
- 3, Seaver allegedly wrote he was a “killer” who’d sold $27 million worth of ammunition and arms to Haitian police on the day that Parton died.
- At the hearing, a Nashville judge was expected to consider extending a prior restraining order that barred Seaver from coming within 1,000 feet of Parton’s employees and business partners, entering private property controlled by her posthumous company, She’s Alive LLC, or engaging in disruptive or harassing conduct.
- In her ruling, she cited one message allegedly sent Aug. 19, about a week before Parton’s death at age 80.
- “Clearly, he wasn’t frightened or intimidated,” Seaver said of Nozell.
- According to court filings, he previously worked for private military contractors and provided security for Parton and her properties through his company, Squadron Augmented Protection Services.
- According to Rolling Stone, Danny Nozell filed a notice of voluntary dismissal of his lawsuit Thursday... in the suit, Danny alleged Bryan had threatened Dolly's business empire.
- Myles of the Davidson County Chancery Court had initially granted a temporary restraining order preventing Seaver and his security company from going within 1,000 feet of any employees of Dolly’s companies or otherwise entering their property, while also ordering him not to make any statements that interfere with the estate’s business relationships.
- The dismissal comes a little over a month after the lawsuit was filed, requesting a restraining order against Seaver and his security company, Squadron Augmented Protection Services (SAPS).