Karen Read Trial Update: Read Seeks Delay in Wrongful Death Lawsuit

An update in the Karen Read trial occurred this week as she is requesting a delay in the wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of her late Boston police officer boyfriend until after her criminal trial, where she faces charges related to his death.

The wrongful death lawsuit, filed last month, holds Read responsible for the death of John O’Keefe, along with alleging negligence by the bars that served her alcohol despite visible signs of intoxication.

According to the lawsuit, the first bar served Read seven drinks in about 90 minutes on the night of January 28, 2022. She then brought a drink with her to a second bar, where she was served a shot and a mixed drink within the next hour.

On Wednesday, Read’s attorneys filed a motion to postpone the wrongful death lawsuit trial until after her criminal proceedings are complete. She is accused of striking O’Keefe with her SUV and abandoning him in a snowstorm in January 2022. Read’s initial two-month trial ended in a mistrial in July, but a new trial is set to begin on January 27. She has pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter while driving under the influence and leaving the scene of a fatal accident.

In a motion, Read’s legal team said: “A stay is appropriate here, where proceeding with this civil action at the same time as the criminal action will adversely affect Ms. Read’s Fifth Amendment rights and her ability to vigorously defense herself from criminal prosecution.”

The motion also noted that the requested stay is “minimal and not prejudicial” citing the fact that the wrongful death lawsuit will likely not be finished until after August 2027.

An attorney representing John O’Keefe’s brother, Paul O’Keefe, and other relatives who filed the wrongful death lawsuit opposes any postponement. The attorney argued that Karen Read’s use of the Fifth Amendment is undermined by her numerous public statements to the media about the case and her involvement in at least one upcoming documentary.

Marc Diller, an attorney for Paul O’Keefe said, “Ms. Read consistently and voluntarily disregards her Fifth Amendment privilege as she attempts to craft her own narrative and poison the jury pool for both her criminal and civil cases.”

“In light of her open willingness to speak publicly, Ms. Read’s current reliance on her Fifth Amendment right to silence appears to be less about avoiding self-incrimination and more about controlling the narrative to suit her interest,” Diller added.

The wrongful death lawsuit, filed in Plymouth Superior Court by Paul O’Keefe on behalf of his family and his brother’s estate, names Karen Read, the Waterfall Bar & Grill and the bar/restaurant C.F. McCarthy’s as defendants. The suit is seeking a jury trial.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.