BROCKTON – The family of Boston police officer and Braintree native John O’Keefe filed a wrongful death lawsuit Monday against Karen Read, the woman accused of killing him, and two Canton bars they visited before his death.
John O’Keefe’s brother Paul O’Keefe and his estate filed a 22-page civil suit in Plymouth Superior Court against John O’Keefe’s girlfriend Karen Read, resulting in Canton CF disbarring McCarthy’s and the Waterfall.
The lawsuit seeks at least $50,000 in damages, including “reasonably expected companionship, companionship, security, guidance, counsel, net income, services, assistance, protection, care and advice of next of kin.”
The lawsuit states that Read’s conduct was “extreme and outrageous, exceeded the bounds of decency and was completely intolerable” and that she “created a false image in an outrageous manner.”
Karen Read charged with premeditated murder
Karen Read was charged with second-degree murder after O’Keefe’s body was found in the driveway outside a fellow Boston police officer’s Canton home during a snowstorm on Jan. 29, 2022. Prosecutors say Read was drunk and angry when she intentionally struck him after a night of drinking at CF McCarthy’s and the Waterfall.
But Read’s defense attorneys claim that O’Keefe’s death was framed on her.
Read is also charged with manslaughter while driving while under the influence of alcohol and driving while under the influence of alcohol resulting in personal injury and death.
The public prosecutor’s office called more than 65 witnesses to testify, which begins on April 29.
The defense’s witness list was much shorter and included a snow plow driver who said he saw nothing on the lawn in Canton where O’Keefe’s body was found.
Judge Beverly Cannone declared the case not ready for trial in July. She has scheduled a second trial for January 27, 2025.
Defense attorneys wanted to drop some charges against Karen Read
After the mistrial, Read’s defense attorneys filed motions to dismiss two counts, saying the jury unanimously concluded Read was not guilty of first-degree murder and leaving the scene of an accident causing injury or death.
Prosecutors, however, argued that the defense had the opportunity to appeal the mistrial finding but did not do so and that there was no verdict yet in the case.
Judge Beverly Cannone sided with the prosecution and ruled last week that Read could be retried on all counts.
