Dolly Parton's manager, Danny Nozell, has voluntarily dismissed a lawsuit against the late music icon's nephew, Bryan Seaver. The legal action, filed shortly after Parton's death in August, accused Seaver of threatening the estate's business interests to extract payments.
Nozell's legal team filed a notice of voluntary dismissal on Thursday, according to Rolling Stone. The dismissal was made without prejudice, meaning the lawsuit could potentially be refiled at a later date. The next scheduled hearing in the case was November 10.
Seaver's attorney, Dominic J. Leonardo, stated that Seaver "cares deeply about his Aunt Dolly, her music, her family, and the incredible legacy she left behind." He added that Seaver is "grateful to put this misunderstanding behind him so that the entire family can continue to grieve peacefully and ensure that the bright light of Dolly's legacy remains entirely untouched."
Previously, Seaver had denied the allegations, claiming that text messages viewed as threatening were intended as jokes. He asserted that his communications with Nozell were private and taken out of context. Seaver had also been involved in a dispute following his sister Rebecca Seaver's termination from her role as executive director at Dolly's Life of Many Colors Museum.
Seaver was previously dismissed from his position as security chief for Parton's properties in September. His legal filings indicated that a significant part of the conflict centered around an unpaid $251,000 sum for services provided by his company, Squadron Augmented Protection Services, to properties owned by the late entertainer. This payment has since been settled.
Parton died on August 25 at the age of 80 following a battle with cancer. The legal proceedings have occurred amid the family's grieving process and efforts to manage Parton's extensive legacy.