Dolly Parton’s manager drops lawsuit against nephew

Dolly Parton performing in 2023. Photo: AP

The longtime manager of late American country music star Dolly Parton has withdrawn a lawsuit against her nephew, Bryan Seaver, following a legal dispute over alleged threats and attempted extortion involving the singer’s estate.

The lawsuit, filed in September by Parton’s manager, Danny Nozell, accused Seaver of attempting to extort money from the estate, which includes an amusement park, a hotel and a museum.

According to the Associated Press, Nozell moved on “Thursday to dismiss the complaint against Seaver and his security company, Squadron Augmented Protection Services, in a Tennessee court.”

The filing did not state why the lawsuit was being withdrawn but indicated that the case would be dismissed without prejudice, meaning it could be filed again.

The development followed a court filing a day earlier indicating that both parties had reached an agreement, although details of the agreement were not disclosed.

Parton’s estate had secured a temporary restraining order against Seaver and his security company in September after accusing him of threatening the singer’s business associates and employees.

Seaver, who had provided security services for his aunt for years, was accused of sending threatening messages, including one in which he allegedly warned that he would become “the hand of retribution for my entire family”.

The allegations were contained in court filings cited by US media, including The New York Times.

A judge subsequently granted a temporary restraining order restricting Seaver from approaching the estate’s properties and interfering with its business operations.

However, Seaver denied threatening anyone, arguing that his private messages had been taken out of context.

He also maintained that his dispute with the estate involved an unpaid bill of approximately $251,000 for security services he had provided.

According to ABC News, “Seaver and his security company filed an 18-page response on Monday denying the allegations, three days before the estate moved to withdraw the lawsuit.”

The lawsuit’s withdrawal came ahead of a scheduled hearing on Tuesday to consider extending the restraining order.

Parton, who died on August 25 at the age of 80 following what her family described as a brief battle with cancer, built a successful entertainment and business empire during her career.

Her business interests include Dollywood, a popular theme park in Tennessee, as well as a hotel and museum in Nashville.

Seaver, the son of Parton’s sister, Cassie, had worked as her head of security for more than two decades before his dismissal in September.