Dolly Parton’s estate gets temporary restraining order against nephew

Dolly Parton’s estate has secured temporary restraining order against nephew Bryan Seaver and his security company

A Tennessee judge has granted Dolly Parton’s estate a temporary restraining order against her nephew Bryan Seaver and his private security company.

The order was granted Wednesday after She's Alive, the entity managing Parton’s estate, filed a complaint against Seaver and Squadron Augmented Protection Services.

The estate accused Seaver of making threats of violence and attempting to interfere with its business operations.

Under the order, Seaver and SAPS must stay at least 1,000 feet (305 metres) away from She's Alive employees, attorneys and business partners.

They are also prohibited from communicating with those individuals and interfering with the estate’s business relationships.

A hearing has been scheduled for October 7.

Seaver owns the security company that provided Parton’s security detail and was previously chosen by the singer to announce her death from cancer last month. He did not immediately respond to an requests for comment.

According to court documents, She's Alive said Seaver sent increasingly threatening messages in the weeks surrounding Parton’s death. The estate said it terminated Seaver and SAPS last week, citing his “terrorizing conduct”.

The documents include text messages and emails that She's Alive says were sent by Seaver. In one message dated September 1, he wrote: "I'm going to set up a podcast dedicated to ruining Dolly's brand partnerships and telling the violations these people have done on us. It's going to be great. Or f——— pay me."

The estate also claimed Seaver referred to his experience working for private military contractors overseas during the Iraq War while making threats.

The court filings say the dispute has affected Parton’s estate operations, with the trusts and estates attorney leaving and some employees resigning. She's Alive also said it hired private security for employees, including at their homes.

Parton died aged 80 last month. Her estate oversees her professional property and business interests, with longtime manager Danny Nozell running She's Alive.