The owner of the Montauk-docked boat where designer Martha Nolan-O\u2019Slatarra died was once sued for allegedly biting a retired FDNY firefighter on the 20th anniversary of 9\/11 at a Manhattan concert. <\/p>\n
Former smoke-eater Michael Balfe, a Ground Zero first responder, claimed he was attacked by Christopher Durnan, 60, during a show at Webster Hall on Sept. 11, 2021, according to a civil suit he filed the following year. <\/p>\n
The lawsuit alleged Durnan \u201cbit and assaulted\u201d Balfe in an unprovoked attack.<\/p>\n
Balfe \u201csustained serious and permanent injuries, suffered, does suffer and will continue to suffer agony to body and mind,\u201d according to the since-settled suit. <\/p>\n
Christopher Durnan, 60, the last person to see Martha Nolan-O\u2019Slatarra alive
was once sued for biting a 9\/11 FDNY first responder in an unprovoked
attack at Webster Hall. Obtained by the NY Post<\/p>\n
Durnan had denied any wrongdoing, arguing Balfe initiated the fight and that his \u201cuse of force was reasonable under the circumstances\u201d according to court papers.<\/p>\n
Durnan was criminally charged after the incident with assault with intent to cause physical injury, recklessly cause physical injury, possession of a controlled substance, attempted assault in the third degree, and harassment, according to court records<\/a>.<\/p>\n He ultimately pled guilty to a disorderly conduct charge. <\/p>\n The civil suit was settled in December 2023, records show.<\/p>\n Durnan could not be reached for comment.<\/p>\n Martha Nolan-O\u2019Slatarra, 33, died on Aug. 5 onboard boat The Ripple, which is owned by Chris Durnan and docked at the Montauk Yacht Club. Facebook \/ Martha Nolan<\/p>\n The circumstances of Nolan-O\u2019Slatarra\u2019s death are under investigation. Instagram\/@marthanolan<\/p>\n \u201cOut of respect for the family of the woman who tragically passed away and Mr. Balfe\u2019s own family, Michael will not be making a comment on the prior case involving Christoher Durnan,\u201d the former firefighter\u2019s lawyer, Darren Moore, told The Post. <\/p>\n Moore emphasized that his client didn\u2019t pay any party when the lawsuit was settled.<\/p>\n Durnan, an insurance mogul with a plush pad in Montauk and another home in Long Beach, owns the boat The Ripple.<\/p>\n Nolan-O\u2019Slatarra was found dead on the boat as it was docked at the swanky Montauk Yacht Club on Aug. 5, according to the Suffolk County Police Department.<\/p>\n A lawyer for Nolan-O\u2019Slatarra\u2019s family revealed that homicide detectives are \u201cquestioning\u201d individuals in relation to the tragic death of the chic East End entrepreneur.<\/p>\n