Dueling Visions Of Carman In Closing Arguments In Insurance Case

Nathan Carman is either a deceptive young man whose shoddy repairs led to the sinking of his boat with his mother presumably on board, or he’s a victim of a terrible misfortune brought on by a boat that never should have been on the water.

Starkly contrasting portrayals of 26-year-old Carman played out Wednesday in closing arguments before U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell Jr. in Carman’s quest for $85,000 in insurance coverage for the sunken 31-foot Chicken Pox.

The insurers — Boat Owners Association of the United States and National Liability & Fire Insurance Co. — are asking the court to find that the insurance contract was void due to faulty repairs that put the boat at risk.