The legacy of a late country music icon Dolly Parton has filed to dismiss his lawsuit against her sister and former head of security, Bryan Seaver, after allegations that he threatened to commit acts of violence and destroy Parton’s brand.
Details of the mission were not immediately known.
“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 completely untouched,” Seaver’s lawyers told CBS News in a statement.
Attorneys for Parton’s estate did not respond to a request for comment.
Seaver, who heads the private security firm Squadron Augmented Protection Services, was asked to announce Parton’s death in August. But in September, Seaver and SAPS were fired by She’s Alive, which manages Parton’s estate and business interests. Parton’s longtime manager, Danny Nozell, who runs She’s Alive, filed for restraining order against Seaver and SAPS.
Parton died of cancer at the age of 80. Seaver rose to national prominence when he announced Parton’s death in a pre-recorded video, in which he said it was “something Dolly asked me years ago, before I accepted it as a future reality.”
She’s Alive, or SAL, had said in its request for a restraining order that Seaver “made repeated written threats to Ms. Parton’s employees, partners, legal and business advisors, and others” and that he was “attempting to extort money from SAL and trusts through an obscene, deliberate and escalating campaign of threats.”
In one instance before Parton’s death, SAL said Seaver threatened to “destroy the whole brand” over a disagreement between Dollywood, the theme park and resort Parton opened in 1986. The lawsuit also said Seaver repeatedly referred to his security business, which he described as a “heavy-handed, paramilitary-style force capable of intimidation and coercion.” SAL staff.”
Seaver made many of those alleged threats via text, according to the lawsuit.
Seaver, in response to SAL’s request to extend its restraining order last month, denied “all allegations”. He said he and Nozell had been close friends for many years and, until he was fired, the two had never had an argument “other than a minor disagreement years ago about a company logo”.
While he admitted to using foul language, he denied threatening anyone, including Parton or her estate’s business partners, saying the text messages between himself and Nozell were “private messages”.
“They were sent through private conversations between two friends who were both frustrated, sad, and discussing strategy after Ms. Parton’s illness and death,” the court reports.
He maintained that the messages about the Dollywood dissent were not threats of violence but that he was “privately warning” Nozell that he believed some associates were “doing harm.” [Parton’s] brand and begging for help.”
Seaver also said in his response that Nozell did not respond to the various texts cited in the lawsuit with pushback or any kind of alarm. In fact, Seaver said Nozell urged him to play up his military and security history publicly before trying to use those connections as evidence that Seaver was dangerous and threatening.
“I have declined to speak to the media about this matter and have instructed my attorneys to handle all media communications,” Seaver wrote at the end of his affidavit. “I am concerned about Ms. Parton, her music, her legacy, and her family. I do not want this controversy to harm her legacy.”