The family of an Irish fashion designer who died on a boat in New York last year has launched a civil action for “wrongful death” against a man for $50m.
Martha Nolan-O’Slatarra, 33, who was originally from Carlow but lived in Manhattan, was pronounced dead on a boat at Montauk Yacht Club in the early hours of 5 August last year.
In a court filing, Ms Nolan-O’Slatarra’s estate said it is seeking “damages for the wrongful death” against Christopher Durnan of Garden City in New York.
It said it is also seeking “to recover damages for the personal injuries and conscious pain and suffering sustained by Martha Nolan O’Slatarra prior to her death”.
“Both causes of action arise from the wrongful conduct of the Defendant, Christopher Durnan, on or about August 4 and 5, 2025, aboard a vessel at the Star Island Yacht Club, located at 32 Star Island Road, Montauk, New York,” the filing said.
Ms Nolan-O’Slatarra moved to the US at the age of 24 and had a successful fashion company called East X East.
She was also director of operations at investment firm K4 Capital and ran an Amazon fashion brand Duper, and had prior to her death celebrated the launch of a pop-up shop at an exclusive Hampton’s oceanfront resort.
Her funeral heard she had lived a “short life, but a packed life”.