A Tennessee judge granted a temporary restraining order on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, to the estate of the late singer Dolly Parton. The order is directed at Parton’s nephew, Bryan Seaver, and his private security firm, Squadron Augmented Protection Services (SAPS). The estate, managed through the entity She’s Alive, filed the complaint on Tuesday alleging that Seaver made threats of violence and intent to damage Parton’s professional legacy.
The legal action follows the termination of Seaver and SAPS by the estate last week. Seaver, the son of Parton's sister Cassie, had served as the singer's head of security and was selected by her to announce her death from cancer in a video last month. Court documents filed by She’s Alive describe his recent conduct as "terrorizing," leading the estate to deem his continued employment untenable.
According to court filings, Seaver is accused of sending threatening messages to estate staff and advisors, including one on September 1 stating he would "ruin Dolly’s brand partnerships" unless he was paid. The estate alleges Seaver used his background as a military contractor to intimidate employees, claiming in messages to be an "international arms dealer." These communications reportedly led to the resignation of several staff members and the estate's attorney.
The scale of the financial interests involved is significant, as the estate manages a brand built on over 1 billion online streams and hundreds of copyrighted songs. Legal filings indicate that Seaver allegedly sought payments from the estate, at one point claiming he had recently sold $29 million worth of ammunition to Haiti as a demonstration of his reach. The restraining order now legally prevents Seaver and his associates from coming within 1,000 feet of She’s Alive employees, attorneys, or business partners, a change that impacts his ability to operate his security firm near his former employer.
The case sets a precedent for how high-profile celebrity estates handle security transitions and potential extortion claims from former staff members who are also family. While Seaver told ABC News that the restraining order is "spurious and simply a publicity stunt," the court has mandated he refrain from any contact with estate representatives. A full hearing on the matter is scheduled for October 7, 2026, which will determine if the temporary order is extended or modified.