Family of NYC fashion designer found dead on Montauk boat to file wrongful death lawsuit

U.S. newsFamily of NYC fashion designer found dead on Montauk boat to file wrongful death lawsuitMartha Nolan-O’Slatarra’s family is seeking $50 million in damages from Christopher Durnan, who was with the 33-year-old when she died last year. Listen to this article with a free profile00:0000:00The order of service for the funeral of Martha Nolan-O'Slatarra at the Cathedral of the Assumption in Carlow, Ireland, in 2025.Niall Carson / PA Images via Getty Images fileShareAdd NBC News to GoogleAug. 11, 2026, 3:00 PM EDTBy Matt LavietesThe family of a New York City fashion designer found dead on a boat in the Hamptons last year is preparing to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the man she was with when she died.Martha Nolan-O’Slatarra, 33, was found dead on a boat owned by Christopher Durnan, 61, and docked at the Montauk Yacht Club in the ritzy region of New York’s Long Island on Aug. 5 of last year.Her family filed a summons with notice against Durnan in Manhattan Supreme Court last week, accusing him of assault, gross negligence, and reckless and wanton conduct in connection with Nolan-O’Slatarra’s death. The family is seeking a sum of $50 million in damages. Durnan has not been charged with any crimes in connection with the death.A lawyer for Nolan-O’Slatarra’s family, Michael Bowe of Brithem LLP, said in a statement to NBC News that the family has conducted their own investigation of Nolan-O’Slatarra’s death and “does not believe Martha died from intoxicants.”He said that EMTs found “blood in her mouth, on her chest and head, on the floor, and possibly behind her head” and reported “the body was cold despite her allegedly having just lost consciousness.”Durnan did not immediately return a request for comment. An attorney for Durnan, Robert Holdman, told New York Magazine last year that his client was “absolutely destroyed” over Nolan-O’Slatarra’s death.“He watched his friend die in trauma,” the lawyer said.The Suffolk County Medical Examiner has not publicl...