Published: June 7, 2026 · 12:10 AM EDT
According to the Trust, a 2004 agreement stated that Dean Guitars would acquire no rights to the Razorback and Stealth guitar designs; the Trust says it plans to appeal the recent summary judgment decision
The Trust of Darrell “Dimebag” Abbott has issued a public response following a recent summary judgment ruling issued by a court in Tampa, Florida, in the ongoing legal dispute involving Armadillo Enterprises (Dean Guitars) and its affiliate Concordia Investment Partners LLC.
The statement was published through the official Dimebag Darrell website together with references to agreements and supporting documents cited by the Trust. Readers can review the complete statement in The Trust of Darrell Abbott's Official Court Ruling Response.
According to the Trust, it disagrees with the court's ruling and believes the decision conflicts with language contained in an agreement signed by Darrell Abbott and Dean Guitars in 2004.
The Trust cited a provision from that agreement stating that Dean Guitars would acquire no rights to the Stealth Guitar or Razorback Guitar designs and that production of those guitar styles would cease upon termination of the agreement.
According to the Trust, the language of the 2004 agreement demonstrates what it describes as Darrell Abbott's intention to retain ownership and control of the Stealth and Razorback guitar designs.
The Trust stated that it views the agreement as evidence that ownership of the designs was not intended to transfer to Dean Guitars during the business relationship.
The Trust also referenced a Non-Disclosure Agreement executed approximately two months before the 2004 agreement.
According to the Trust, that document included language acknowledging that the Razorback, Stealth and related headstock designs were created by Darrell Abbott.
The Trust cited language from the NDA describing the guitar body shapes and headstock designs as creations of Abbott intended for use in a signature guitar line.
Rita Haney, identified by the Trust as Darrell Abbott's longtime significant other and representative of the Trust, stated that the language of the 2004 agreement was clear regarding ownership of the guitar designs.
According to Haney, Abbott would not have agreed to transfer ownership of the designs and expected the same arrangement that existed following the end of his previous relationship with Washburn Guitars.
Haney further stated that Dean Guitars did not manufacture or sell Razorback or Stealth guitars before its formal relationship with Abbott and argued that the company should not continue producing those designs after termination of that relationship.
The Trust also alleges that Dean Guitars and affiliated parties made false representations to the United States Patent and Trademark Office in 2007 when obtaining trademark protection for the Razorback guitar shape.
According to the Trust, trademark filings described the Razorback design as having been created by Dean Guitars after Abbott's death as a tribute instrument.
The Trust disputes that characterization and maintains that the design originated with Darrell Abbott.
According to the Trust, the litigation extends beyond the Razorback and Stealth guitar designs.
The Trust stated that it continues to pursue claims involving the alleged unauthorized use of Darrell Abbott's name, likeness, artwork and intellectual property, including material associated with the iconic Dean From Hell guitar.
The Trust further stated that it intends to appeal the recent summary judgment ruling.
The dispute centers on some of the most recognizable instruments associated with Dimebag Darrell, whose influence on modern heavy metal remains significant through his work with Pantera and Damageplan.
The Razorback and Stealth guitar designs became closely associated with Abbott's stage image and musical identity, making questions of ownership and intellectual property particularly significant to his legacy.
Since his death in December 2004, Dimebag Darrell has remained one of the most influential guitarists in heavy metal history. His work helped define the sound of Pantera and influenced generations of guitarists through both his playing style and his distinctive instruments.
The guitar designs at the center of the current dispute have become enduring symbols of that legacy and remain among the most recognizable shapes in modern metal culture.
According to the Trust of Darrell Abbott, the recent Florida court ruling does not resolve the broader dispute surrounding the Razorback and Stealth guitar designs. The Trust stated that it intends to continue pursuing its claims through the appeal process while seeking protection of what it describes as Darrell Abbott's intellectual property and legacy.
Written by Gino Alache – Music Journalist
