An attorney for Dolly Parton's estate says a subpoena for police body camera footage involving her nephew, Bryan Seaver, was issued without his permission, according to Whiskey Riff. The subpoena is part of the ongoing lawsuit between Seaver and She's Alive LLC, the company overseeing Parton's estate.
As Whiskey Riff reported, the subpoena asked Vanderbilt University to turn over body camera video of Seaver's alleged altercation with police at Vanderbilt Medical Center around the time of Parton's death. The document was issued on behalf of Tim Warnock of Loeb & Loeb, who represents She's Alive. It was not signed by him and instead names private investigator Diana Hutson as the agent. Warnock wrote in an email that "I did not authorize anyone to issue a subpoena," and said Vanderbilt's general counsel was told to ignore it, according to the outlet.
Seaver's attorneys have asked the court to limit who may request subpoenas in the case to counsel of record, their staff or the parties themselves, Whiskey Riff reported. The outlet also reported, citing TMZ, that the incident took place when Seaver came to the hospital to arrange for Parton to be moved to a funeral home. According to Whiskey Riff, sources close to Seaver say there was no altercation.
Seaver, Parton's former head of security, was terminated, and the estate then sued him. According to Billboard, the suit alleges he tried to extort money with violent threats after Parton's death in August. A judge granted a temporary restraining order that requires him to stay at least 1,000 feet from staffers. Seaver has disputed much of the estate's account in a court response, as Whiskey Riff reported.
Separately, Taste of Country reported, citing TMZ, that Parton's niece Rebecca Seaver was fired on Oct. 29 from her job as executive director of the Life of Many Colors Museum. Neither the estate nor Rebecca Seaver had publicly confirmed or denied the report at the time.
A hearing is set for Nov. 3 in Nashville, according to Forbes. It will decide whether the restraining order becomes a longer-term injunction.
For more on her legacy, read Dolly Parton: A Look at Her Autobiography, Legacy, and Newest Album.
Sources: Whiskey Riff · Taste of Country · Billboard · Forbes
