She’s Alive, the company that manages Dolly Parton’s business interests, has asked a court for a temporary restraining order against Bryan Seaver, Parton’s nephew and former head of security. The filing says Seaver sent threatening messages over several weeks.
The company is run by Parton’s longtime manager Danny Nozell. It ended its relationship with Seaver and Squadron Augmented Protection Services last week, describing his alleged conduct as making continued employment untenable, according to court documents seen by the Associated Press.
Parton’s sister Freida rejected the idea of a family split. She said no one in the Parton-Owens family was fighting over the singer’s estate and that the family still loved Seaver. Seaver told ABC News that the restraining order was unfounded and a publicity stunt, and said he had been dismissed after negotiations over a long-term services agreement.
The dispute follows Parton’s death last month at the age of 80 after cancer. She had asked Seaver, who also announced her death in a video, to make that announcement when the time came. The court proceedings will determine how the allegations are handled.