MONTAUK — The family of Martha Nolan-O’Slatarra filed a summons with notice against Christopher Durnan in Manhattan Supreme Court on August 4, 2026, alleging assault, gross negligence, and reckless and wanton conduct. The lawsuit seeks $50 million in damages. The legal action follows the death of Nolan-O’Slatarra, 33, who was found dead on a boat docked at the Montauk Yacht Club on Aug. 5, 2025.

The vessel where Nolan-O’Slatarra was found is named Ripple and was owned by Christopher Durnan, 61. East Hampton Town Police responded to a 911 call from a man reporting a woman unconscious on the boat around midnight on Aug. 5, 2025. First responders pronounced Nolan-O’Slatarra dead on the boat after good Samaritans attempted to perform CPR.

Michael Bowe, an attorney for Nolan-O’Slatarra’s family, stated that the family conducted their own investigation and does not believe she died from intoxicants. An autopsy commissioned by the family revealed that only trace amounts of cocaine were found in her system. Bowe added that EMTs reported the body was cold despite her allegedly having just lost consciousness.

Bowe also stated that EMTs found blood in Nolan-O’Slatarra's mouth, on her chest and head, on the floor, and possibly behind her head. He said law enforcement informed the family they believed the scene had been cleaned before responders arrived.

The Suffolk County Medical Examiner has not publicly released a final cause and manner of death for Nolan-O’Slatarra. The Suffolk County Police Department issued a statement saying that Nolan-O’Slatarra's autopsy did not show evidence of violence and her final cause of death is pending further examination. The department also stated that the investigation is still continuing. Christopher Durnan has not been charged with any crimes in connection with the death.

Robert Holdman, an attorney for Christopher Durnan, stated that his client was "absolutely destroyed" over Nolan-O’Slatarra’s death. Lawyers for Durnan stated that he stripped naked because he was soaked in Nolan-O’Slatarra’s vomit. Christopher Durnan was spotted running for help down the Montauk Yacht Club dock completely nude at roughly midnight on Aug. 5, 2025. However, the Montauk Fire Department EMT report did not note any vomit at the scene.

Why It Matters

The civil lawsuit brings forward conflicting accounts regarding the condition of the scene and the presence of bodily fluids, which remain central to the allegations of negligence and assault. While the defense cites vomit as the reason for Durnan's state, emergency medical records do not corroborate its presence, and the family points to physical evidence of blood and a lack of intoxicants as indicators of foul play or mishandling.

The final determination of the cause of death remains pending with the Suffolk County Medical Examiner, leaving questions about the circumstances surrounding Nolan-O’Slatarra's death unresolved. The ongoing police investigation and the absence of criminal charges against Durnan distinguish the civil allegations filed by the family from the current status of the criminal inquiry.

Timeline

In 2024, Martha Nolan-O’Slatarra said in an interview: "I was the small town girl who needed to get out to achieve her big dreams." Also in 2024, she said in an interview: "I always knew I wanted to be successful, that I was money-driven, business-driven — and that fashion is a tough industry and it would be a slow road." On Aug. 5, 2025, the boat where Martha Nolan-O’Slatarra was found was owned by Christopher Durnan, 61.

On Aug. 5, 2025, Martha Nolan-O’Slatarra, 33, was found dead on a boat docked at the Montauk Yacht Club. On that same date, Christopher Durnan was spotted running for help down the Montauk Yacht Club dock completely nude at roughly midnight.

The Montauk Fire Department patient care record noted an additional male was on the scene who told EMTs he was in bed with Nolan-O’Slatarra and called 911 when he was unable to wake her. Nolan-O’Slatarra was pronounced dead on the boat by first responders after good Samaritans attempted to perform CPR. A Montauk Fire Department patient care record noted that Nolan-O’Slatarra was cool to the touch with purple nail beds and slight purpling around her lips.

What's New

Later reporting indicates that lawyers for Christopher Durnan stated that he stripped naked because he was soaked in Nolan-O’Slatarra’s vomit. Michael Bowe stated that law enforcement informed the family they believed the scene had been cleaned before responders arrived. Additional details show Christopher Durnan was spotted running for help down the Montauk Yacht Club dock completely nude at roughly midnight on Aug. 5, 2025.

The Montauk Fire Department patient care record noted an additional male was on the scene who told EMTs he was in bed with Nolan-O’Slatarra and called 911 when he was unable to wake her. A Montauk Fire Department patient care record noted that Nolan-O’Slatarra was cool to the touch with purple nail beds and slight purpling around her lips. The record also noted dried blood in Nolan-O’Slatarra's oral, head, and chest area, with no active bleeding observed. An autopsy commissioned by Nolan-O’Slatarra’s family revealed that only trace amounts of cocaine were found in her system. The Montauk Fire Department EMT report did not note any vomit at the scene.