Photo: WBZ NewsRadio
Updated 9/22/25 3:49 p.m.
PLYMOUTH, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — A hearing for Karen Read's civil case was held Monday afternoon in Plymouth Superior Court. The wrongful death lawsuit was filed by the family of Boston Police Office John O'Keefe against Read and two bars in Canton.
Read was accused of hitting former O’Keefe, her then-boyfriend, with her SUV and leaving him to die in the snow on Jan. 29, 2022, in Canton. Following a mistrial in 2024, she was found not guilty of second-degree murder, manslaughter, and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death in June, but was found guilty of operating a motor vehicle under the influence.
Defense attorney Alan Jackson, who helped Read win her criminal case, is among those representing her in the civil trial.
C.F. McCarthy’s and the Waterfall Bar and Grill in Canton are also being sued, as Read and O’Keefe had been drinking at the bars in the hours before O’Keefe’s death.
Speaking before a judge Monday, Read's lawyers said they want to bring in more parties, and use the facts of this case to make the argument that Read was framed. O'Keefe's body was found outside of a home, owned by former Boston Police Officer Brian Albert, at 34 Fairview Rd. in Canton. Read's criminal defense lawyers argued that O'Keefe was beaten up inside of the home and dragged outside.
"We would be alleging that the individuals in the house diverted attention away from themselves towards Ms. Read. That law enforcement then, acting on that diverted attention away from her, because the people in the house were either police or police-adjacent who were socially and personally connected. Then they collectively conspired to ensure that what happened in the house was not explored and investigated," Attorney Damon Seligson, a lawyer for Read, said during the hearing.
Some of the parties the defense wants to bring in include ousted State Police Trooper Michael Proctor, State Police Lt. Brian Tully, and the Albert and McCabe families. Seligson said if the judge does not approve the request, they could "file a separate action on Ms. Read's behalf." Judge Daniel O'Shea made it clear this would push any trial out significantly as the O'Keefe side seemed to be caught off guard.
In addition to wrongful death, the O’Keefes have accused Read of “negligent and/or reckless infliction of emotional distress.” The defense is trying to get the claims dismissed.
"None of the plaintiffs observed the alleged incident that is described in the complaint. None of the plaintiffs came upon the decedent in close enough proximity to stay the claim for emotional distress," Seligson said.
Attorney Marc Diller, a lawyer for the O'Keefe family, said argued the "defendants failed to holistically consider the facts alleged and the known vulnerabilities of the plaintiffs when evaluating the defendant's extreme and outrageous conduct in violation of the infliction of emotional distress standard."
Judge O'Shea indicated he would make a decision on the motion to dismiss as quickly as possible.
WBZ NewsRadio's Madison Rogers (@madisonwbz) reports.