Family sues yacht owner for $50 million wrongful death

The family of Irish fashion designer Martha Nolan-O'Slatarra has filed a $50 million wrongful death lawsuit against the owner of the yacht where she was found dead one year ago. The suit, filed in the Supreme Court of New York, accuses investor Christopher Durnan of causing the 33-year-old's death through assault and gross negligence.

Nolan-O'Slatarra was pronounced dead aboard Durnan's yacht, the Ripple, at the Montauk Yacht Club in the Hamptons in the early hours of August 5, 2025. According to court documents, the alleged wrongful conduct occurred on or about August 4 and 5, 2025, at the club located at 32 Star Island Road. The lawsuit claims Durnan intentionally assaulted the designer and acted with gross negligence, recklessness, and wanton conduct that directly caused her death.

The circumstances of Nolan-O'Slatarra's death have been shrouded in mystery since the incident. Police were called after residents reported hearing screams and encountering a naked man, later identified as Durnan, running down the dock seeking help. Bystanders attempted to revive Nolan-O'Slatarra, but she was declared dead at the scene. An initial autopsy conducted by the Suffolk County Medical...