When a 33‑year‑old Irish fashion designer was found dead aboard a luxury Sea Ray at the Montauk Yacht Club in August 2025, her family filed a $50 million wrongful‑death claim in Suffolk County court. The suit alleges that yacht owner Christopher Durnan, a 61‑year‑old insurance executive, assaulted or negligently caused the tragedy.
Owner turns to federal maritime protections
In a surprising move, Durnan filed a petition in federal court seeking to invoke admiralty jurisdiction. By doing so, he asks the judge to limit any potential liability to the vessel’s appraised value of $476,942, rather than the full amount demanded by the plaintiffs.
“This is a typical delay tactic that is rarely successful and will not be here,” said Michael Bowe, the attorney representing the designer’s estate. “Mr. Durnan will soon have to answer to the complaint we are prepared to file and then to sit for his deposition.”
Legal experts explain the strategy
James Mercante, Durnan’s maritime‑law counsel, declined to comment, but legal analysts say the approach is not unheard of. David Cattie, a U.S. Virgin Islands‑based admiralty attorney, noted that vessel owners enjoy “vastly more protection” at sea when the facts meet federal criteria. He added, “If the owner was involved in or knew of the defect that caused the harm, those protections evaporate.”
The crux of the argument centers on “privity” – whether Durnan personally knew about any condition that led to the fatality. If the court finds he had such knowledge, the liability cap would likely be dismissed.
Facts of the incident
According to the federal filing, Nolan‑O’Slatarra was a guest on the 54‑foot yacht Ripple on Aug. 4, 2025. Early the next morning she was found unconscious on board. Durnan allegedly attempted to render aid and called nearby vessels for help; one called 911 and another performed CPR.
Forensic pathologists later reported no obvious signs of violence, and the cause of death remains under investigation. The family’s civil complaint alleges assault and gross negligence, citing blood found in the victim’s mouth, chest, and head.
Service challenges and court action
Durnan was not served with the state lawsuit until Oct. 1, after a multi‑state search that located him at properties in Long Island, Garden City, Windham and finally a waterfront home in Lantana, Florida, where a Rolls‑Royce was parked outside. He told a process server he was “surprised it took you so long.”
On Oct. 27, U.S. Magistrate Judge Gabriel W. Gorenstein approved Durnan’s request to stay the state case pending a hearing on the maritime petition. The judge set a Jan. 25, 2027 deadline for any claimant to enter the federal action and contest the liability limitation.
Local reaction
Montauk residents and the broader Long Island community have expressed concern over the case, viewing it as a test of how wealthy property owners can leverage federal law to shield themselves from local accountability. Randolph Rice, a Maryland‑based legal analyst, warned, “When we have trouble serving someone, it’s a red flag that something fishy is going on. Ultimately, this maritime maneuver may give the defense a legal lifeline, but it’s far from clear whether the argument will float with the federal court.”
The outcome could set a precedent for future wrongful‑death and negligence suits involving high‑value vessels docked in New York’s coastal marinas.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
