Dolly Parton’s estate has voluntarily dismissed its lawsuit against her nephew and former head of security, Bryan Seaver, according to a Tennessee state court filing on Thursday.
The estate’s company, She’s Alive LLC (SAL), which oversees Parton’s professional assets, requested the dismissal without prejudice, meaning the claims could be refiled in the future. The filing follows a three-day-old response from Seaver and his security company, Squadron Augmented Protection Services (SAPS), which denied allegations of threats and intimidation.
In the response, Seaver argued that the estate’s accusations were based on taken-out-of-context messages and that he had not engaged in an “escalating campaign of intimidation.” He also stated that SAPS was owed $251,000 for services rendered, a debt he claimed had since been paid. The estate had previously alleged that Seaver attempted to evade service of the lawsuit by claiming his residence had a no-trespassing sign and barbed wire.
The dispute began in September, when SAL filed a temporary restraining order against Seaver, alleging threatening behavior and a risk to Parton’s reputation. Seaver had announced Parton’s death in August via a social media video. Days later, SAL terminated SAPS’s security services for properties tied to Parton’s trust.
Seaver’s attorneys stated in a response that their client was “grateful to put this misunderstanding behind him” so the family could “continue to grieve peacefully.” The estate has not publicly commented on the dismissal.
The legal back-and-forth reflects broader tensions over the management of Parton’s estate following her death. While the lawsuit has been dropped, the without prejudice clause leaves open the possibility of future legal action if disputes resurface.