Dolly Parton’s estate has alleged that her nephew and former security head used barbed wire and a no trespassing sign to avoid being served in a lawsuit, according to a court filing confirmed by the Guardian.
The country star’s company has filed suit against her nephew, Bryan Seaver, claiming that he menaced and attempted to strong-arm Parton’s estate after she died on 25 August. Seaver announced Parton’s death in a video and previously said this was “something Dolly asked of me years ago”.
A process server who attempted to deliver lawsuit documents to Seaver saw that his home featured a “no-trespassing sign in the front yard and barbed wire draped across the handrails leading to the front door”, according to the document.
“Mr Seaver attempted to evade service of process, and this court should not reward that behavior,” the court filing states, also claiming that a process server tried delivering the lawsuit three times.
The filing was first reported by ABC News.
Seaver could not immediately be reached for comment. An attorney listed as representing Parton’s company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Parton’s estate was granted a restraining order against Seaver in September. Following Parton’s death her business manager, Danny Nozell, reportedly terminated Seaver from his security position.
Nozell has alleged that Seaver engaged in “relentless” threats. A lawsuit alleged: “These were not ordinary workplace disputes or heated words; they were deliberate threats from a self-proclaimed heavily armed, former security operative with a military-contractor background. Many of [Parton’s staff members] are now afraid to come to work or have resigned entirely because they do not feel safe.”
The judge who granted the restraining order considered the threats cited in the civil complaint as well as Seaver’s alleged prior claim to have “access to weapons, experience with violence and intention to retaliate”.
Under the restraining order, Seaver and his security concern, Squadron Augmented Protection Services, are mandated to refrain from being within 1,000ft (300 meters) of staffers, lawyers and business associates of She’s Alive, the company founded to handle Parton’s estate. The order is reportedly intended to prevent Seaver from interfering with her estate’s business dealings.
Seaver is reportedly accused of telling one of Parton’s lawyers that “I’m a killer.” He also is accused of separately saying to Nozell: “I’m literally an international arms dealer and mercenary. All I do is warfare. Everyone needs to be worried about what I might do.”
According to a docket in the litigation, a hearing is scheduled for 20 October.
