RI RI - Linda Carman, 54, Point Judith, 18 Sept 2016 *SON ARRESTED, dies before trial*

[YESorNO]

Civil Trial Over Insurance For Nathan Carman’s ‘Suspicious’ Boat Sinking Underway (with clip)

August 13, 2019

"PROVIDENCE, R.I. (CBS/AP) — A civil trial underway in Providence will determine whether insurance companies should cover Nathan Carman‘s $85,000 claim for his boat that sank off New England in 2016.

Insurers are refusing to pay the claim, saying Carman made suspicious alterations to the 31-foot vessel before leaving Rhode Island with his mother on a fishing trip....

The federal judge hearing the non-jury trial that began on Tuesday says testimony will be limited to questions surrounding the insurance claim.

Lawyers for the insurance company said one of the altercations Carman made right before setting out was drilling holes right above the water line and not properly patching them.

They also called the boat’s prior owner, Brian Woods to testify that the Chicken Pox was seaworthy when he retrofitted and sold it to Carman.

Carman’s lawyers said Woods took advantage of his lack of experience and sold him a defective boat...."

Civil Trial Over Insurance For Nathan Carman's 'Suspicious' Boat Sinking Underway

 

[YESorNO]

FOX61‏Verified account @FOX61News 11h11 hours ago
It's been nearly 3 years since Nathan Carman was rescued off the coast of Rhode Island after a week on a life raft. Carman will be in court today for an $85,000 insurance claim on the boat, but many questions remain. @AshleyAfonso has details this AM.

(video clip: FOX61 on Twitter )


Brandon Truitt‏Verified account @BrandonTruittTV 11h11 hours ago
Heading into court for the trail of Nathan Carman over his insurance company’s refusal to pay the claim for his boat that sank in 2016. Carman was rescued a week later. His mother was never found. @wpri12

Todd Kazakiewich‏ @ToddKazakiewich 11h11 hours ago
In opening statement, attorney for boat insurance company tells Judge that Nathan Carman made his boat (“Chicken Pox”) “unseaworthy.” “This is a case about a boat that left (Ram Point Marina in South Kingstown, RI) with holes in it & sank 12 hours later.” #wcvb


Todd Kazakiewich‏ @ToddKazakiewich 11h11 hours ago
Attorney for boat insurance company tells Judge that Nathan Carman was in the life raft adrift at sea “significantly shorter than 7 days” as initially reported, promises testimony to that effect during this bench trial. #wcvb


Todd Kazakiewich‏ @ToddKazakiewich 11h11 hours ago
Attorney for Nathan Carman says the boat was not structurally sound...long before Carman bought it. “Mr. Carman was a young 22 y/o kid w/ more $ than experience. He (boat seller) took advantage of him & sold him the boat.” #wcvb


Ashley Afonso‏Verified account @AshleyAfonso 11h11 hours ago
In opening argument - Defense arguing that insurance company tried to change terms of #NathanCarman’s policy.


Dave Altimari‏ @davealtimari 10h10 hours ago
Anderson says that Nathan Carman is never going to be able to prove precisely what made his boat sink.


Michelle San Miguel‏ @NBC10_Michelle 9h9 hours ago
Carman’s attorney, David Anderson, says the boat that Nathan bought was never designed to be a boat and he argues the man who sold him the boat took advantage of a then 22-year old man who had more money than experience. @NBC10


Alexandra Leslie‏Verified account @AlexandraLeslie 9h9 hours ago
EARLIER: Nathan Carman & his lawyer entered court around 9 AM. Both did not comment when reporters asked questions on their way inside. They were carrying multiple boxes of evidence for Carman's civil trial regarding insurance claims on his boat that sank in 2016. @wpri12

(video clip: Alexandra Leslie on Twitter )


Hartford Courant‏Verified account @hartfordcourant 9h9 hours ago
At the start of the federal trial about the sinking of Nathan Carman’s boat, a lawyer for his insurance company said a hypothermia expert will testify there is little chance Carman was drifting in a life raft for a week before his rescue


Todd Kazakiewich‏ @ToddKazakiewich 9h9 hours ago
Brian Woods, of Kingston, is the man who sold “Chicken Pox” to Nathan Carman. The purchase price was $48,000. Woods testified Carman paid for the boat, but not for $800 in additional work. #wcvb


Todd Kazakiewich‏ @ToddKazakiewich 9h9 hours ago
Woods describes the boat “Chicken Pox” that he sold to Nathan Carman, “it was a beautiful-running boat,” he says, adding that the hull was, “solid as a rock.”

 

[YESorNO]

Michelle San Miguel‏ @NBC10_Michelle 8h8 hours ago
Insurance company’s first witness: Brian Woods. He sold the Chicken Pox to Nathan Carman. Woods testified that he installed bulkheads, which he says give boat structure and keep it from twisting, vibrating. @NBC10


Michelle San Miguel‏ @NBC10_Michelle 8h8 hours ago
No cameras are allowed in federal court. Here’s a rendering of Nathan Carman seated in court today. @NBC10

Providence Journal‏Verified account @projo 7h7 hours ago
Witness: Nathan Carman displayed 'lack of respect for the ocean' https://www.providencejournal.com/news/20190813/witness-nathan-carman-displayed-lack-of-respect-for-ocean …via @kmulvne


Dave Altimari‏ @davealtimari 7h7 hours ago
Brian Woods the man who retrofitted the Chicken Pox and sold it to Nathan Carman for $48k said Carman seemed “to have a complete lack of respect for the ocean.”


Dave Altimari‏ @davealtimari 5h5 hours ago
Under cross examination Nathan Carman’s attorney Brian Woods admits that he can’t remember how he actually installed the trim tabs on the Chicken Pox. The tabs are a key part of the case because Carman removed them and left holes that insurers say he didn’t properly fill.


Ryan Welch‏ @RyanWelchPhotog 2h2 hours ago
3 different markets and lots of live shots are set up here in Downtown Providence covering the Nathan Carman case at federal court, so we had to get a little creative with space for our live shot. Hope this person doesn’t need to leave anytime soon.

 

[YESorNO]

Civil trial over Nathan Carman’s sunken boat claim gets underway (with clip)

August 13, 2019

"...In their opening statement, the plaintiffs said: “this is a case about a boat that left Ram Point Marina with holes in it.”...

The defense is seeking to prove the vessel was old and had issues before Carman bought it....

The defense also claims the insurance policy was changed multiple times based on the known facts of the case.

The first person called to testify was Brian Woods, who sold Carman the boat just 10 months before it sank. He said the vessel was in great condition at the time after years spent working on it.

The judge is giving each side 15 hours to present their case and he’s using a chess clock to keep track. There’s also no jury in the trial, so the judge will be the deciding factor.

Carman is listed as a witness for both sides but it’s unclear whether he’ll be called to testify. He sat in silence on Tuesday, only shaking his head in disapproval at times...."

Civil trial over Nathan Carman’s sunken boat claim gets underway

 

[YESorNO]

Brandon Truitt‏Verified account @BrandonTruittTV 1h1 hour ago
Nathan Carman and his attorney have arrived to Federal Court for day two of the civil case against him. @wpri12

(video clip: Brandon Truitt on Twitter )


Todd Kazakiewich‏ @ToddKazakiewich 1h1 hour ago
Nathan Carman arrives for day 2 of his civil trial. The insurance company for his sunken boat & the company that sold the policy are suing him. They rejected his $85,000 claim due to unsafe modifications they say he made to the boat “Chicken Pox”. #wcvb #Providence

(video clip: Todd Kazakiewich on Twitter )


Dave Altimari‏ @davealtimari 54m54 minutes ago
Getting a late start today in Nathan Carman trial the judges first order if business was to tell attorneys how much of the 15 hours they’ve been allotted were used. Plaintiff(insurance) 2 hours 40 minutes, Defense(Carman) 2 hours 50 minutes.


Mike Savino ‏ @Reporter_Savino 46m46 minutes ago
Back in Providence for day two of the Nathan Carman trial. Starting with testimony of Bernard Feeney, marine surveyor who inspected Chicken Pox in December 2015 after Nathan Carman purchased the boat

Man whose mother disappeared during boat trip faces judge on insurance claim


Dave Altimari‏ @davealtimari 37m37 minutes ago
The first witness is a marine surveyor who joined Nathan Carman and Brian Woods to test drive the Chicken Pox before the sale. The first test drive was aborted because of a faulty hose clamp. On second test drive boat passed. He considered the boat to be in “average condition.”


Todd Kazakiewich‏ @ToddKazakiewich 16m16 minutes ago
Boat expert Bernard Feeney (retained by the insurance company) testifies about the bulkhead Nathan Carman allegedly removed from his boat: “They are structural components of the boat...there’s a certainty that that boat is going to be in peril at some point in time.” #wcvb


Amanda Pitts‏ @APittsABC6 14m14 minutes ago
In Federal Court for day 2 of Nathan Carman’s civil trial where it’ll be decided whether insurance companies will cover Carman's $85k claim for his boat that sank off New England in 2016. Bernard Feeney is testifying now about a bulkhead Carman allegedly took off the boat. @ABC6

 

[YESorNO]

Amanda Pitts‏ @APittsABC6 1h1 hour ago
Feeny is still on the stand, being questioned. He checked out the boat when Nathan Carman purchased it in 2015 and gave it the OK — saying it was in good condition. We’re now looking at the surveyor report that’s showing a moisture meter attached to the boat. @ABC6

Scott McDonnell‏Verified account @ScottMcDonnell_ 1h1 hour ago
Insurance co. says Nathan Carman made suspicious alterations to boat he says "sank" killing his mother. Hypothermia experts call floating at sea for 8 days unlikely I flew w/ @uscoastguard during search Scoured area & saw nothing Days later...Carman found floating on raft @WTNH

Dave Altimari‏ @davealtimari 28m28 minutes ago
After Attorneys spend few hours questioning marine surveyor Bernard Feeney, Judge John McConnell asks him 2 questions- was Chicken Pox seaworthy when you inspected it? And was it seaworthy after Nathan Carman made alterations to it?

 

[YESorNO]

Hartford Courant‏Verified account @hartfordcourant 1m1 minute ago
A marine surveyor testified Wednesday that Nathan Carman's boat was likely slowly taking on water during the 12 hours it was on a fishing trip because of the holes Carman drilled in the hull

Nathan Carman trial: Expert says boat was taking on water from holes drilled in hull by Carman before it sank


Amanda Pitts‏ @APittsABC6 1m1 minute ago
Brian Woods, the man who sold Nathan Carman the boat: “He modified the boat. That’s why it sank. I can’t explain why anyone would do that.” Woods says he left that day with an odd feeling and Carman didn’t seem excited to be a new boat owner. @ABC6

 

[YESorNO]

Amanda Pitts‏ @APittsABC6 6m6 minutes ago
Nathan Carman leaves court on day 2 of his civil trial. Testimony resumes tomorrow morning. @ABC6

(video clip: Amanda Pitts on Twitter )

 

[YESorNO]

Rick Green‏ @VTConfidential 1m1 minute ago
Doomed voyage: expert at Nathan Carman trial testifies that holes drilled by Carman caused boat to fill with water and sink. https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-news-nathan-carman-trial-day2-20190814-dbxnirsasbhjzjqek346ipoklu-story.html …

 

[YESorNO]

Dave Altimari‏ @davealtimari 3h3 hours ago
Looks like day 3 of the Nathan Carman trial will get off to slow start the judge is sitting at the attorneys table with all of them gathered around going through all the insurance documents in the case trying to get both side to sign off on what shall be admitted.


Mike Savino ‏ @Reporter_Savino 2h2 hours ago
Day 3 of the Nathan Carman trial in federal court in Providence, which starts with Michael Pellerin, VP of Boat US, to talk about Carman's boat insurance policy

Man whose mother disappeared during boat trip faces judge on insurance claim


Scott McDonnell‏Verified account @ScottMcDonnell_ 58m58 minutes ago
The Nathan Carman civil trial is shedding a lot of light into an investigation packed with mystery & unanswered questions. - Lawyers for the insurance company say Carman altered the boat "Chicken Pox" including drilling holes in it @BrandonTruittTV w/ our coverage from RI @WTNH

(video clip: Scott McDonnell on Twitter )


Dave Altimari‏ @davealtimari 48m48 minutes ago
BoatUS executive on stand in day 3 of Nathan Carman trial to lay out his insurance for the Chicken Pox. Carman originally had $66k insurance but less than a month later sought increase to $85k because he bought new life raft and other equipment.

 

[meanmaryjean]

Thank you so much YESorNO for covering this - much appreciated!

 

[YESorNO]

Dave Altimari‏ @davealtimari 7h7 hours ago
This is video of Nathan Carman driving the Chicken Pox out of Plymouth harbor after purchasing the boat for $48,000 from Brian Woods who took this video and testified the boat was moving “awesome.”

17-cv-38-JJM Exhibit P32.26

Aug 14, 2019

 

[YESorNO]

Mike Savino ‏ @Reporter_Savino 7h7 hours ago
Trial is over whether Carman can collect on $85,000 insurance policy. Insurance company claims Carman performed shoddy work on boat, resulting in the boat sinking.


Mike Savino ‏ @Reporter_Savino 7h7 hours ago
Carman's mother, Linda Carman, was also on the boat, but hasn't been seen since.


Mike Savino ‏ @Reporter_Savino 7h7 hours ago
First 2 days focused on the quality of the boat at the time Carman purchased it in 2015. Brian Woods, who rebuilt the boat (Chicken Pox), testified that he restored the boat to safe and working condition


Mike Savino ‏ @Reporter_Savino 7h7 hours ago
Surveyor Bernard Feeney, who inspected the boat after sale, said it was servicebale (or seaworthy) at time of sale. Plaintiffs claim Carman's work compromised boat and caused it so sink. That would cancel insurance policy


Mike Savino ‏ @Reporter_Savino 7h7 hours ago
Carman's lawyer, David Anderson, says boat was in poor shape when he bought it, despite findings in spection.


Mike Savino ‏ @Reporter_Savino 7h7 hours ago
Boat US claims Carman voided the policy because he never informed them of certain work (removing trim tabs and bulkead) that would have lowered value. Plaintiffs claim that same work also caused boat to sink


Mike Savino ‏ @Reporter_Savino 7h7 hours ago
Anderson said in opening arguments that Boat US not forthcoming with Carman, never produced firm terms of policy. Says that violated maritime lay requirement for duty to operate in good faith.

 

[YESorNO]

Dave Altimari‏ @davealtimari 6h6 hours ago
BoatUS executive on stand in day 3 of Nathan Carman trial to lay out his insurance for the Chicken Pox. Carman originally had $66k insurance but less than a month later sought increase to $85k because he bought new life raft and other equipment.

Dave Altimari‏ @davealtimari 6h6 hours ago
That insurance increase was approved. Two months after the boat sank With his mother on board Carman sent email to insurance company asking for policy handbook as well as possible payment methods for his boat loss claim.


Dave Altimari‏ @davealtimari 5h5 hours ago
Weird moment in Carman trial as boat insurance exec testifies a pretty big piece of plaster fell from the ceiling right onto Judge John McConnell’s desk barely missing him drawing gasps from crowd. The judge brushed it aside and remarked that court is due for some renovations.


Mike Savino ‏ @Reporter_Savino 5h5 hours ago
Pellerin said Carman did tell Boat U.S. when he added a life raft, increasing the value. Plaintiffs says he did not do the same when changes lowered the value.

 

[YESorNO]

Mike Savino ‏ @Reporter_Savino 5h5 hours ago
In cross examination, Anderson now saying Boat US misrepresented itself. He says company markets itself as membership association, but is actually corporation owned by Berkshire Hathaway.


Mike Savino ‏ @Reporter_Savino 5h5 hours ago
Anderson trying to hammer Pellerin with questions about whether Boat US discloses its ownership to customers. Judge halts line of questioning as irrelevant


Mike Savino ‏ @Reporter_Savino 2h2 hours ago
Plaintiffs now questioning Bud Smedberg, who did engine repairs, other work for Carman


Mike Savino ‏ @Reporter_Savino 2h2 hours ago
Smedberg says Carman brought boat into shop in April 2016 after engine overheated. Says he replaced the engine at that time.

Mike Savino ‏ @Reporter_Savino 2h2 hours ago
Smedberg also says he had to replace blown fuse on bilge pump at least 3 times. Told Carman about problem. Carman said he'd fix. Bilge pump removes water from the boat.


Mike Savino ‏ @Reporter_Savino 1h1 hour ago
Plaintiffs now call Michael Iozzi, who saw Nathan Carman working on his boat in September 2016


Mike Savino ‏ @Reporter_Savino 1h1 hour ago
Saw Nathan drilling holes in the transom (part of the rear of the boat).


Mike Savino ‏ @Reporter_Savino 1h1 hour ago
Iozzi: says Carman stated he was working on trim tabs with drill. "I just didn't understand how he was doing that kn the water. That would be something that would be done out of the water."


Mike Savino ‏ @Reporter_Savino 1h1 hour ago
Iozzi says he also say Carman patch the holes with putty. Plaintiffs have presented scenario where holes could leak, flooding boat. Carman also removed bulkhead, which could have minimized impact of flooding.


Mike Savino ‏ @Reporter_Savino 35m35 minutes ago
Anderson challenging Iozzi's account, saying he didn't actually see Carman drilling into boat. Only assumed that based on seeing Carman with the drill and hear Carman use tools.


Mike Savino ‏ @Reporter_Savino 35m35 minutes ago
Even still, Iozzi maintains he saw Carman drill two holes

 

[YESorNO]

Dave Altimari‏ @davealtimari 4h4 hours ago
Day 3 of the Nathan Carman trial. The mechanic and the guy whose boat was in the slip next to Carman's at Ram Point Marina set to testify this afternoon. It now seems likely Carman won't testify until the middle of next week.

Nathan Carman trial: Executive says company would not have insured Chicken Pox after Carman altered boat before it sank

 

[YESorNO]

Dave Altimari‏ @davealtimari 3h3 hours ago
This is a story I did a month after Carman was rescued, some of these people will be testifying today. It raised many of questions attorneys are trying to get In at the trial.

Drinking Water Key To Carman's Survival On Raft, Experts Say

 

[YESorNO]

Thank you so much YESorNO for covering this - much appreciated!

 

[YESorNO]

Expert testifies in federal trial that the Chicken Pox was ‘not seaworthy’ after Nathan Carman drilled holes in hull before ill-fated fishing trip

"Aug. 15--An expert witness for the insurance companies suing Nathan Carman offered more evidence Wednesday that the Chicken Pox was "not seaworthy" before it sank into the Atlantic and his mother disappeared.

Carman "put four holes in the boat an inch or two from the water line," Bernard J. Feeney, a marine surveyor, testified during the federal civil trial taking place in Providence. "The boat was taking on water the whole time it was on the ocean and he never checked the bilge pump."

Under questioning by Judge John J. McConnell, Feeney said the boat was "seaworthy" when Carman bought it, but "not seaworthy after ... what he did to this boat."...

Nathan Carman is also entangled in a long-running family controversy that began after his grandfather was murdered in 2013. His mother's three sisters allege that Nathan Carman is responsible for the deaths of both his mother and grandfather.

Feeney said water was likely coming in to the boat because Carman removed "trim tabs" from the hull after he bought it. The tabs are a key part of the case because Carman removed them and left holes that insurers say he didn't properly fill. Trim tabs assist in stability and control of the boat.

During cross examination, David Anderson, Carman's lawyer, questioned Feeney about the history of the boat and the wear and tear on it....

Feeney was the second witness on the second day of the federal trial in U. S. District Court in Providence involving Nathan Carman and the insurance companies that have refused to pay his claim for the loss of the Chicken Pox. ...

David Farrell, a lawyer for one of the insurance companies, the Boat Owners Association of the United States, plans to call three witnesses who are expected to cast doubt on Carman's version of how and where the Chicken Pox sank.

The witness list includes a tide expert who will challenge where Carman says his boat sank; a lobsterman who sails out of the same marina as Carman who was fishing in Block Canyon the day the Chicken Pox sank and never saw it or the raft; and a physician who is a hypothermia expert who will testify that there's little chance Carman was adrift at sea in a raft for eight days.

Police in Connecticut still consider Carman a person of interest in the murder of his grandfather, John Chakalos, in December of 2013 in his Windsor home. The investigation is now being led by the cold case squad at the Chief State's Attorney's office...."

https://insurancenewsnet.com/oartic...d-holes-in-hull-before-ill-fated-fishing-trip

CT - John Chakalos, 87, Windsor, 20 December 2013 *Grandson arrested*

 

[YESorNO]

Civil trial over mystery at sea insurance payout continues (with clip)

August 15, 2019

"...Day three of the trial continued on Thursday.

Boat U.S. Vice President Michael Pellerin testified that Carman never told the company of the changes that affect the boat's value.

"It's up to our insureds to let us know what material changes they make on vessels," Pellerin said on Thursday.

He added that Carman did notify Boat U.S. of a life raft that upped the value by roughly $20,000, but he never disclosed removing a bulkhead or trim tabs.

Carman's attorney, David Anderson, accused Boat U.S. of being misleading.

He said the company markets itself as a membership association, like AAA for boaters.

Instead, the company is owned by a for-profit insurance company.

Anderson has also claimed Carman never received the policy.

Boat U.S. argues the boat was in good condition when they issued the policy.

Video shown in court shows the boat operating at full speed with no problems after the sale.

However, Anderson maintains the 40-year-old boat was deteriorating despite repairs. He said the boat was destined to sink even before Carman's work.

Carman bought the boat in December of 2015.

Two witnesses on Thursday testified to Carman's maintenance of the boat...."

Civil trial over mystery at sea insurance payout continues