Dolly Parton's estate has filed a request to voluntarily dismiss its lawsuit against the late country music legend's nephew, Bryan Seaver, and his security company, Squadron Augmented Protection Services. The notice was filed Thursday in Tennessee state court by She's Alive LLC, the company that manages Parton's professional assets.
The estate's filing states that the dismissal is "without prejudice," which allows for the possibility of refiling the claims at a later date. The estate had accused Seaver of making threats and creating a "culture of fear" following Parton's death in August.
Seaver, who provided security services to his aunt for about two decades, had previously denied the allegations. In a response filed earlier this week, he and his company refuted claims of an "escalating campaign of intimidation" and argued that private messages cited in the lawsuit had been taken out of context. Seaver also disputed accusations of attempting to obtain money through intimidation, stating that his security company was owed approximately $251,000 for services rendered, a debt that has since been paid.
This development comes after a period of legal contention. In September, a temporary restraining order was granted against Seaver and his security company, with a judge citing a "present and continuing disruption and threat" to She's Alive. Later, in an Oct. 5 court filing, the estate alleged that Seaver had attempted to evade being served with the lawsuit, noting the presence of a "no-trespassing sign in the front yard and barbed wire draped across the handrails leading to the front door" at his residence.
Seaver had previously stated that the restraining order prevented him from publicly discussing the case. Parton died in August after what her family described as a brief battle with cancer.