Day four wraps of Nathan Carman civil trial over ‘suspicious’ boat sinking
By: Ellie Romano
Email: ERomano@ABC6.com
Twitter: @ERomanoABC6
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) – A civil trial between Nathan Carman and two insurance companies continues at Providence Federal Court.
Carman is trying to get insurance companies to pay for the cost of his sunken boat, “Chicken Pox”.
The boat sank while he was on a fishing trip with his mother off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard three years ago.
The companies are refusing to pay the $85,000 claim, arguing Carman made suspicious alterations to the boat causing it to sink.
Friday was day four of the trial in the civil case. Jonathan Klopman, an expert marine surveyor was brought in to testify.
He answered questions on how difficult it would have been for Carman to make alterations to the boat.
Klopman said based on Carman’s deposition, the boat most likely sunk from the stern. However, Carman initially claimed it sank from the bow.
Carman’s lawyers argue Klopman gathered his facts inaccurately because pictures he used in his research were taken at angles that could distort proper measurements.
Although Carman is considered a person of interest in his mother’s disappearance and his grandfather’s unsolved murder, the judge ruled none of that can be used in this trial about insurance money.
Testimony will continue next week.
© WLNE-TV 2019
