The Trust of Darrell “Dimebag” Abbott (Pantera, Damageplan) has issued the following statement regarding the recent summary judgment ruling by a court in Tampa Florida, in the matter involving the Trust and Armadillo Enterprises (d/b/a) Dean Guitars, and its affiliate Concordia Investment Partners, LLC.

The Trust respectfully disagrees with the Court’s ruling and believes the decision conflicts with the clear language contained in the agreement Darrell Abbott signed with Dean Guitars in 2004. Specifically, the agreement states: “The Company [Dean Guitars/Armadillo Enterprises] shall acquire no rights in the tradenames or designs ‘Stealth Guitar’ or ‘Razorback Guitar’ by virtue of this Agreement, and upon termination of this Agreement shall cease the production of Stealth and Razorback style guitars.”

https://www.dimebagdarrell.com/2026courtrulingresponse

To the Trust, this language demonstrates Darrell Abbott’s clear understanding and intent that ownership and control of the Stealth and Razorback guitar designs would remain with him and would not transfer to Dean Guitars under the agreement.

The Trust further points to a Non-Disclosure Agreement executed just two months prior to the 2004 agreement, in which Dean Guitars CEO Elliott Rubinson acknowledged that the Razorback and Stealth guitar designs, along with the associated headstock designs, were created by Darrell Abbott. The agreement describes the design Darrell disclosed as: “The design constitutes a specific body shape of a guitar and specific headstock shapes that were designed by ‘Dime,’ known as the ‘Razorback,’ a slightly modified ‘Stealth’ guitar, which is also a design of ‘Dime’s,’ and the ‘Razorback Headstocks 1 and 2,’ and are to be used in creating his own signature line of guitars.”

(click here to view actual agreements)

Rita Haney, Darrell’s long-time significant-other and representative of the Trust of Darrell Abbott, stated: “The Agreement Darrell signed in 2004 stated Dean Guitars shall acquire ‘NO’ rights in the designs Stealth or Razorback Guitar, and…No means ‘None.’ It’s the ultimate negative: it means ‘not any,’ or ‘not at all.

Darrell would never have signed away ownership of his designs, and the documents clearly support that. He had Dean Guitars sign an NDA to even look at his Razorback Guitar. His Stealth guitar was previously sold during his relationship with Washburn, and when that relationship ended, Darrell retained his designs and expected the same arrangement to be upheld by Dean Guitars.

Dean Guitars did not make or sell a single Razorback nor Stealth before their formal relationship with Darrell. They never used the shapes without Darrell’s endorsement and in no way should be allowed to make these guitars after the relationship was terminated.

We believe this company has repeatedly misrepresented the facts, and we continue to fight for the return of Darrell’s guitar designs as well as their unauthorized use of Darrell’s name, likeness, and intellectual property.”

The Trust also alleges that Dean Guitars and their affiliates, in 2007 (three years after Darrell’s death), made FALSE representations to the US Trademark Office when obtaining a Trademark for the Razorback Guitar shape. They literally claimed it was they who designed the Razorback as a tribute guitar “after his death.” Further stating they used Darrell’s razorblade neckless as some sort of inspiration for the design: After his death in 2004, Applicant designed a unique Dimebag Darrell signature-design guitar line reminiscent of the classic Dean ML guitar used during Abbott’s early career as a tribute to Abbott. One of the designs features “razor” like edges symbolic of the razorblade worn by Abbott around his neck.

The Trust emphasizes that the litigation is ongoing and that the recent ruling does not resolve the broader dispute. The Trust intends to appeal the summary judgment decision and continue pursuing additional claims relating to the alleged unauthorized use of Darrell Abbott’s name, likeness, artwork, and associated intellectual property, including the iconic “Dean From Hell” artwork.

The Trust maintains that Darrell Abbott’s claims have not yet been fully heard on their merits and remains confident in the strength of its position moving forward.  

The Trust concluded:“This case represents a broader issue faced by many artists and creators — the protection of their intellectual property and legacy against greedy corporate interests with greater financial resources. We remain committed to protecting Darrell’s legacy and ensuring that one of the most influential guitarists in music history receives the respect and legal protections he deserves.”

(click here to view actual agreements)

Previously, The United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida granted summary judgment in Armadillo’s favor, ruling that the company owns the trademarks for the Razorback and Stealth guitar designs and all related intellectual property. The court cited years of prior use and good-faith commercial activity as the basis for its decision. Claims of trademark infringement, fraud, and breach of contract over those iconic models are covered under the ruling.

Armadillo responded with an official statement, saying the ruling confirmed what they “have known all along.” The company reaffirmed its long-standing relationship with the Abbott family, emphasized its years of good-faith commercial use as the foundation of its trademark ownership, and expressed gratitude for the court’s thorough consideration of the case. The statement echoed the position Armadillo CEO Evan Rubinson staked out in 2021, when the suit was filed, calling the estate’s claims “baseless, without any merit, and not grounded in reality.”

The legal battle traces back to August 2021, when Haney announced the end of the seventeen-year partnership between the estate and Dean Guitars and filed suit the same day. Haney alleged that Rubinson told her that Dimebag had been dead for sixteen years and that the company could no longer make the money it once did, and that he instructed her to go elsewhere. She alleged repeated disrespect toward Dimebag’s legacy and accused the company of fraudulently registering the Razorback and Stealth trademarks without permission, failing to pay contracted royalties, and manipulating Dimebag’s father, Jerry Abbott, and brother, Vinnie Paul, after Dime’s murder in 2004, to reduce amounts owed to the estate. The court dismissed each of those claims.

Shortly before Dimebag’s murder in 2004, he signed with Dean, switching from Washburn Guitars. The partnership continued with the estate for nearly two decades. Dean founder Dean Zelinsky had departed the company by 2008, and the estate’s complaints centered largely on how the brand operated under Elliot Rubinson and, later, his son Evan.

This is not the only lawsuit involving Dean Guitars in recent years. In 2020, a court dismissed a separate suit from guitar designer Buddy Webster, who claimed ownership of the “Dean from Hell” lightning bolt design, ruling he had waited too long to file. In early 2025, in a separate lawsuit, after a post-appellate ruling ordering a retrial, the court ruled in favor of Gibson Guitars and against Dean in a trademark battle over the Flying V and Explorer body shapes, finding Dean guilty of trademark infringement and counterfeiting.

Two claims remain active in the Dimebag case: one regarding the “Dean from Hell” artwork and one for false endorsement. These claims remain pending.