Bryan Seaver's Lawyers Defend His Texts in Dolly Parton Estate Battle
Attorneys for Dolly Parton's nephew claim his messages were taken out of context amidst a dispute with the singer's manager.
Lawyers for Bryan Seaver, the nephew of the late Dolly Parton, have responded to a restraining order filed by Danny Nozell, Parton's manager, asserting that Seaver's text messages have been misrepresented.
Attorneys Dominic J. Leonardo and James L. Collier stated that Seaver, who was chosen by Parton to announce her passing, has been a private individual and that the ongoing legal proceedings have been difficult for him and his family. They claim that the dispute arose while the family was grieving, and that the business manager brought a "surprising and incomplete story" to court and the media.
"Seeing text messages that are misleading and taken out of context has been very hurtful to our client and his family," the lawyers said in a statement. They also noted that the restraining order was granted "Ex Parte," meaning the court had not yet heard Seaver's side of the story.
The legal team added that Seaver and his family are eager to resolve the matter amicably and expeditiously, and trust that Dolly Parton's legacy will remain unaffected.
Earlier reports indicated that Nozell, who managed Parton for over two decades, fired Seaver from his role as head of security and filed a restraining order against him due to allegedly threatening text messages. These messages reportedly caused employees of Nozell's management company to stop coming into the office.
According to documents obtained, Nozell expressed fears over Seaver's alleged threats, which included invoking his experience as a military contractor, access to weapons, and capacity for violence to demand money. Seaver is also accused of attempting to "sabotage a core business relationship" through his communications.
Page Six previously reported on an expletive-filled email Seaver allegedly sent in an email chain titled "Fwd: Letter from Dolly" days before Parton's death. In it, he reportedly wrote, "If you think my harsh language is too much for you or your failing vendors to digest, just wait until my lawyers start f–king you up the ass."