Dolly Parton Estate Sues Nephew Over Barbed Wire Evasion

The estate of country music icon Dolly Parton is suing her nephew, Bryan Seaver, alleging he is using a "no trespassing" sign and barbed wire at his residence to avoid legal action. She’s Alive LLC, the company managing Parton’s business, filed the accusations Monday in Davidson County Chancery Court in Nashville.

The estate claims Seaver, formerly Parton’s head of security, threatened and extorted the estate after Parton’s death on Aug. 25. According to the court filing, a process server attempting to serve Seaver legal documents observed the sign and barbed wire at his home.

The filing states the server attempted to serve Seaver three times, asserting that Seaver “attempted to evade service of process.” The estate also claims Seaver has not retained legal counsel, despite indicating he would.

She’s Alive LLC requested the court deny Seaver’s bid for an extension and convert a temporary restraining order, previously granted, into a temporary injunction. Last month, a Tennessee judge granted the estate the order against Seaver and his security company, citing a “present and continuing disruption and threat.”

Seaver, who announced Parton’s death in a video, previously denied the allegations. He stated he was fired after the estate negotiated services with him and his company and called the estate’s cited threats “contrived.”