The family of New York fashion designer Martha Nolan-O'Slatarra, 33, is pursuing a $50 million wrongful death lawsuit against Christopher Durnan, the owner of the luxury yacht where she was found dead on August 5, 2025. The suit, filed in New York Supreme Court, accuses Durnan of causing Nolan-O'Slatarra's death through assault and negligence, exactly one year after the family learned of her passing.
Nolan-O'Slatarra, founder of the swimwear brand East x East, met Durnan aboard his yacht, Ripple, at the Montauk Yacht Club on August 4, 2025, to discuss her company. According to the filing, Durnan later emerged from the yacht screaming for help, stating that Nolan-O'Slatarra had passed out. Bystanders attempted to revive her, but she was declared dead at the scene.
The family's suit asserts that Durnan, who had reportedly invested over $200,000 in Nolan-O'Slatarra's business, "intentionally and wrongfully assaulted" the designer and acted with gross negligence, recklessness, and wanton conduct. They seek damages for her pain and suffering, as well as punitive and pecuniary damages for her family.
Authorities have faced scrutiny over the investigation into Nolan-O'Slatarra's death. Suffolk County police stated that an initial post-mortem examination showed no evidence of violence and that the final cause of death is pending further investigation. Early speculation suggested a drug overdose, with reports of white powder found on the yacht. However, sources close to the family claim an independent autopsy revealed only trace amounts of cocaine and indicated that an assault directly led to her death.
This is not the first time Durnan has faced accusations of assault. In 2022, a retired firefighter, Michael Balfe, filed a lawsuit claiming he was "viciously attacked, bit and assaulted" by Durnan during a 2021 event at New York's Webster Hall. Durnan was arrested on misdemeanor charges including assault but pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and received a conditional discharge. He maintained he acted in self-defense in that case, which was settled in December 2023.
Robert Holdman, an attorney representing Durnan, 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 11:00 p.m. on August 4, and Durnan attempted CPR. The lawyer also stated that Durnan removed his clothing that night because it was soiled with Nolan-O'Slatarra's vomit.
Nolan-O'Slatarra, originally from Ireland, moved to New York about a decade ago and built a career in fashion, founding brands like Duper and East x East. She had also been involved in a settled legal dispute where a former employer accused her of stealing $34,000, which she denied. She finalized an uncontested divorce months before her death.