The family of fashion designer Martha Nolan-O'Slatarra is filing a $50 million wrongful death lawsuit against investor Christopher Durnan, alleging he caused her death through assault and negligence aboard his yacht in August 2025. The lawsuit claims emergency responders found blood on the designer's mouth, head, and chest, contradicting initial reports of a possible drug overdose.
According to the family's lawyer, Michael Bowe, preliminary findings from EMT reports indicated the presence of blood at multiple sites on Nolan-O'Slatarra's body. Bowe stated that law enforcement had informed the family that the scene had been cleaned before responders arrived. The family's independent medical examiner disputes the level of intoxicants found in Nolan-O'Slatarra's system, suggesting they would not be fatal for someone of her age and health.
Nolan-O'Slatarra, 33, the founder of the swimwear brand East x East, met with Durnan on his yacht, Ripple, at the Montauk Yacht Club to discuss her company. Durnan was found naked on the dock around midnight, reportedly stating Nolan-O'Slatarra had vomited on him. However, the lawsuit claims no soiled clothes or signs of vomit were found at the scene or in the autopsy. Bowe also alleged that Durnan refused to speak with investigators after the incident and falsely claimed to be in contact with the family.
The preliminary filing, submitted exactly one year after the family learned of Nolan-O'Slatarra's death, accuses Durnan, who had invested over $200,000 in her beauty boutique, of assault and gross negligence. The family seeks damages for Nolan-O'Slatarra's pain and suffering, as well as punitive and pecuniary damages.
Law enforcement sources initially suspected a drug overdose, partly due to the discovery of a white powder on the yacht, which was later speculated to be cocaine. However, sources close to the family reported that an independent autopsy revealed only trace amounts of cocaine and suggested an assault led to her death.
Durnan has faced previous accusations of assault. In 2022, a lawsuit filed by a retired firefighter alleged he was attacked by Durnan at Webster Hall. Durnan was arrested on misdemeanor charges including assault, but pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct. His attorney has maintained that Durnan is not responsible for Nolan-O'Slatarra's death, claiming she became unresponsive between 10:30 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. on August 4, and he attempted CPR. The attorney also stated Durnan removed his clothes because they were soaked with vomit.
Nolan-O'Slatarra, originally from Ireland, moved to New York approximately a decade ago and founded several companies, including East x East. She had also been involved in a settled lawsuit alleging theft from a former employer and finalized an uncontested divorce months before her death.