The family of a New York fashion designer found dead on a luxury yacht in August 2025 has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the boat's owner, alleging assault and negligence. Martha Nolan-O'Slatarra, 33, founder of the swimwear company East x East, was found unresponsive aboard the yacht Ripple at the Montauk Yacht Club in the Hamptons.
The family is seeking $50 million in damages, according to a filing in New York Supreme Court. The suit, filed exactly one year after they were informed of Nolan-O'Slatarra's death, accuses Christopher Durnan, an investor in her company, of intentionally and wrongfully assaulting the designer and of gross negligence that led to her death.
Nolan-O'Slatarra met Durnan on the evening of August 4, 2025, to discuss her business. Later that night, Durnan was seen running from the yacht and seeking help, stating that Nolan-O'Slatarra had passed out. Bystanders attempted to revive her, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.
An initial post-mortem examination by Suffolk County police found no evidence of violence, and the final cause of death remains pending. Sources close to the family, however, commissioned an independent autopsy that reportedly revealed only trace amounts of cocaine in Nolan-O'Slatarra's system. They claim this autopsy indicated an assault directly caused her death.
Durnan's attorney, Robert Holdman, has stated that his client is not responsible for Nolan-O'Slatarra's death. Holdman claims Nolan-O'Slatarra became unresponsive between 10:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. on August 4, prompting Durnan to attempt CPR. The lawyer also stated that Durnan removed his clothing because it was soiled with Nolan-O'Slatarra's vomit, an assertion made in response to a previous report.
This legal action follows previous accusations of assault against Durnan. In 2022, Michael Balfe, a retired firefighter, filed a lawsuit claiming Durnan assaulted him at Webster Hall in New York. Durnan was arrested on misdemeanor charges, including assault, but pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and received a conditional discharge. Durnan's legal team asserted he acted in self-defense in that incident, which was later settled.
Nolan-O'Slatarra, originally from Carlow, Ireland, moved to New York about a decade ago and established a career in fashion. She founded accessory brand Duper and swimwear label East x East. She had also been involved in a settled legal dispute in 2022 when a former employer accused her of stealing $34,000, an allegation she denied. Her divorce from Sam Ryan was finalized months before her death.