Dolly Parton estate sues nephew over alleged threats and property barricades
The estate managing Dolly Parton's brand filed a lawsuit against her nephew, Bryan Seafar, accusing him of threatening employees and using barbed wire and caution tape to block service of legal papers.
Attorneys for Dolly Parton's estate, represented by the management firm She’s Alive, have filed a civil complaint against her nephew Bryan Seafar, alleging he threatened the estate’s staff and business partners and attempted to evade service of the lawsuit. Court filings include photographs showing barbed wire, yellow caution tape and a "no trespassing" sign surrounding Seafar's front yard and door.
The complaint, filed two weeks ago, says Seafar conducted a "campaign of threats" that led several employees to quit and forced the estate to hire private security for its personnel. It cites text messages and emails in which Seafar threatened to launch a podcast aimed at damaging Parton's brand partnerships and demanded payment.
"This is a contrived out-of-context explanation of how this went down and it is being done in an effort to solidify me as some sort of opposition to her brand in her legacy," Seafar wrote in a text to a newspaper.
She’s Alive removed Seafar from his security duties a week before filing the suit, describing his conduct as untenable. After three unsuccessful attempts to serve him, the estate served the summons by email.
Chancellor I’Ashea L. Myles issued a temporary restraining order on Sept. 22, citing messages that threatened specific business relationships and referenced Seafar's access to weapons and intent to retaliate. The order bars Seafar from contacting or approaching estate employees, attorneys and partners within 1,000 feet and from interfering with the estate’s business affairs.