Dolly Parton estate says nephew used barbed wire to avoid lawsuit papers
Lawyers for Dolly Parton's estate say her nephew blocked his front door with barbed wire and yellow caution tape while avoiding lawsuit papers. The claim was made in a response filed on Monday, 5 October, which opposed his request for more time to find a lawyer.
The filing comes from She's Alive LLC, the company set up to manage Parton's estate after her death. Its lawyers wrote that "Mr. Seaver attempted to evade service of process" after three unsuccessful attempts to serve Bryan Seaver, according to the filing reported by Rolling Stone.
On one visit, the process server saw four cars in Seaver's driveway. No one opened the door.
The estate alleged that Seaver's home had a no-trespassing sign in the front yard and barbed wire draped across the handrails leading to the front door. A photo submitted with the filing showed wire strung across the railings of a five-step porch, with strips of yellow caution tape and pumpkins visible beside it.
Seaver is Parton's nephew. He announced her death on 25 August in a video posted to her Instagram account. Parton was 80. Seaver had previously worked for private military contractors and later provided security for Parton and her properties through Squadron Augmented Protection Services, known as SAPS, which is also named in the case.
The wider lawsuit centres on control of estate business and alleged threats. The estate has accused Seaver of threatening violence and seeking to damage his aunt's legacy and business operations. It cited a message allegedly written by Seaver on 19 August: "I'm going to destroy the entire brand if you don't get these [Dollywood business partners] out of our bit." The estate has been valued at an estimated $450 million, according to Business Insider.
A Tennessee judge has already granted a temporary restraining order, a short-term court order that sets limits while a case is heard, against Seaver and his security company, as reported by CBS News. Nashville Chancery Court Chancellor I'Ashea L. Myles ordered Seaver to stay 1,000 feet from estate employees and business partners, to stay off private property controlled by the estate, and to refrain from disruptive or harassing behaviour. Danny Nozell, Parton's longtime manager, is the sole manager of She's Alive LLC.
The immediate argument is about timing. Seaver filed a motion on 2 October in Davidson County Chancery Court in Nashville, Tennessee, seeking a continuance, a delay to allow more time to secure legal counsel. The estate asked the judge to deny that request and argued that the security company missed a deadline to challenge the emergency order. It said the temporary order should therefore be converted into a permanent injunction, a longer-term court ban, covering both the company and Seaver as its head. A hearing on the order and injunction is set for Friday, 9 October, unless the court grants Seaver more time to hire a lawyer.
