Karen Read, the Massachusetts woman accused of killing her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, in 2022, is attempting to delay a wrongful death lawsuit filed by O'Keefe’s family until after her criminal trial. Read faces a second trial for second-degree murder and other charges in January, after her initial trial ended in a mistrial three months ago.

According to documents filed by her attorneys, the civil suit should be postponed until the criminal case concludes to avoid compromising her Fifth Amendment rights. The wrongful death lawsuit also names Waterfall Bar & Grill and C.F. McCarthy’s as defendants, alleging they continued to serve Read alcohol on the night of the incident, despite her visible intoxication.

The lawsuit claims that Read backed her SUV into O’Keefe during a snowstorm and left him outside, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Read’s criminal trial in July ended in a mistrial after jurors could not reach a verdict on a manslaughter charge but agreed to acquit her on charges of second-degree murder and leaving the scene. “My best guess right now is they will dispense with the first argument pretty quickly,” Suffolk University law professor Chris Dearborn commented on the upcoming appeal. “The second argument… is the one I think has a little more promise.”

In the lead-up to the retrial, Read’s legal team is set to argue before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in hopes of having two charges dismissed, including the second-degree murder charge. This appeal could have significant repercussions for the January trial date, especially if the court takes months to reach a decision. “I don’t know if that is fair to either side,” Dearborn said, noting the challenges of preparing for trial amid ongoing legal uncertainties.

Meanwhile, the decision to bring in special prosecutor Hank Brennan, who previously represented mobster James “Whitey” Bulger, has sparked interest. Brennan’s involvement is seen by some, including Dearborn, as an effort to underscore the prosecution’s commitment to a rigorous and ethical handling of the case. “I think this is the DA Morrissey trying to send a message to everybody that we don’t want anyone to think there is anything going on here that is untoward or not ethical,” Dearborn explained.

With these pending legal battles, both criminal and civil, and heightened media scrutiny, the case continues to captivate Massachusetts and beyond, as Read faces another showdown in court on January 27.
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