The wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of Irish bikini designer Martha Nolan-O’Slatarra, found dead aboard a luxury yacht at the Montauk Yacht Club, has been frozen by a federal judge as the boat’s owner, multimillionaire Christopher Durnan, seeks to limit his liability under maritime law. Durnan’s legal team is asking the court for exoneration or to cap his potential exposure to the vessel’s appraised value of $476,942, a fraction of the $50 million demanded by Nolan-O’Slatarra’s family, who allege assault and gross negligence. The core of the federal legal battle will hinge on the concept of ‘privity’ – whether Durnan personally knew about or was responsible for circumstances contributing to Nolan-O’Slatarra’s death. While Durnan denies wrongdoing and has not been charged, the family’s attorney criticizes the maritime maneuver as a delay tactic, emphasizing that Durnan will still face deposition and accountability. The legal strategy mirrors that used by the owner of the cargo ship involved in the Baltimore bridge collapse, highlighting the significant protections afforded to vessel owners under federal maritime law, which can be nullified if direct owner involvement or knowledge is proven. The family’s legal team faced significant challenges serving Durnan, eventually locating him at his Florida vacation home, before he filed his federal petition. A federal judge has stayed all related litigation pending the resolution of Durnan’s bid for exoneration or limitation of liability, with a deadline set for potential claimants to enter the federal case and challenge Durnan’s request.
Adapted from: U.S. News Today on Fox News
