Dolly Parton’s nephew Bryan Seaver challenges estate lawsuit, calls text messages ‘misleading’
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Lawyers for Dolly Parton's nephew and longtime head of security, Bryan Seaver, have spoken out after he was sued by the late singer's company, She's Alive, LLC, and became subject to a restraining order.
In a statement to USA TODAY on October 12, attorneys Dominic Leonardo and James Collier challenged the account presented by representatives of Parton's company in court filings. They said text messages cited in the allegations were misleading and taken out of context, adding that Seaver's side of the story had yet to be heard by the court.
Bryan Seaver's lawyers call text messages misleading
Seaver's attorneys described the dispute as a conflict between their client, a family member who was also in charge of Parton's private security, and a business manager.
"Mr. Seaver has always been a private person, but he was chosen by his aunt, with his family's approval, to make the announcement about Dolly's passing. He would have preferred to remain a private person as this ordeal has taken a toll on his family," the statement read.
"This legal dispute arose between Mr. Seaver, a family member also in charge of Dolly's private security, and a business manager. While the family was grieving, the business manager went to Court and the media with a surprising and incomplete story," the attorneys continued. "Seeing text messages that are misleading and taken out of context has been very hurtful to our client and his family."
The lawyers said She's Alive's restraining order against Seaver was granted "without the benefit of the Court hearing Mr. Seaver's side of the story, which is coming."
After Seaver requested more time to meet with his legal team, a hearing on temporary injunctive relief was postponed until October 20.
The attorneys concluded their statement by expressing their hope that the dispute could be resolved without further conflict.
"While Mr. Seaver and family work through this they trust the bright light of Dolly's legacy remains untouched and they are eager to amicably and expeditiously resolve this matter," the statement read.
Why Dolly Parton's company sued Bryan Seaver
Seaver served as his aunt's head of security for more than 20 years. He was also entrusted with announcing her death to the public on August 25. Parton died at 80 after privately battling cancer.
Following her death, her longtime manager, Danny Nozell, oversaw the administration and operations of her estate. On September 16, Seaver was notified that he and his services had been terminated.
On September 22, She's Alive, a company Parton established to protect her professional property and business interests after her death, sued Seaver and his security company, Squadron Augmented Protection Services. The company also filed a motion for a temporary restraining order.
The lawsuit alleged that Seaver threatened to smear his aunt's legacy and made violent threats against several employees.
"Mr. Seaver began his campaign of threats, intimidation, and coercion a few weeks prior to Ms. Parton's passing," one court filing obtained by USA TODAY alleged. "In writing, he vowed to 'destroy the entire brand' and also told her entertainment attorney: 'I'm not an entertainment person. I'm a killer.'"
Seaver denied the allegations in a September 23 statement to ABC News, calling the restraining order "spurious and simply a publicity stunt."
"Dolly called me her killer. It was a joke we used around her camp," Seaver said. "I was her 'baby boy ninja' and Danny Nozell took that text out of context to somehow imagine that I was threatening him. He's always called me The Killer.
"I've never threatened anyone," he continued. "They are my friends and my brothers and colleagues."
Dolly Parton's sisters deny family feud
Seaver is the son of Cassie Parton and counts Dolly, Freida Parton and Stella Parton among his aunts. Both Freida and Stella issued public statements addressing the family following the legal dispute.
In a September 23 Facebook post, Freida Parton wrote that there "is no feud within our family."
"No one among the Parton/Owens family is fighting over Dolly's estate," she added. "We all love Bryan, just as we all love each other."
In a lengthy Facebook post on September 24, Stella Parton noted that the siblings had also lost their brother Coy "Denver" Parton less than a month before Dolly's death.
"We are still intact and moving forward because our children and grandchildren look to us for strength and guidance during this difficult time of loss and confusion for them as well," she wrote. "Regardless of what you may have seen on different news outlets, we are all doing what you would be doing under the same circumstances, we are living our lives one day at a time and being grateful for every blessing."
