Karen Read was back in court Monday for a hearing in the civil lawsuit that was filed against her by John O’Keefe’s family, and her legal team revealed that she plans to sue Massachusetts State Police and other key players in the high-profile murder case.

In June, a jury acquitted Read on the most serious charges she faced in the death of O’Keefe, her Boston police officer boyfriend. Read had been accused of hitting O’Keefe and leaving him to die in the snow outside 34 Fairview Road in Canton after a night of heavy drinking in January 2022. 

In a civil trial, there is a much lower legal standard for proof of guilt. The lawsuit, filed by O’Keefe’s family last year after Read’s first criminal trial ended in a mistrial, is seeking at least $50,000 in damages.

“It’s the often-used example of the O.J. Simpson trial where he was found not guilty but then was sued in civil court, was found liable,” said WBZ legal analyst Katherine Loftus. 

Read’s lawyer Damon Seligson told the court that she has plans to sue Massachusetts State Police, Lt. Brian Tully, Sgt. Yuri Bukhenik and fired Trooper Michael Proctor for violating her civil rights and conspiracy. Seligson said she also intends to bring claims against Brian Albert, Nicole Albert, Matthew McCabe, Jennifer McCabe and Brian Higgins, who were inside the home at 34 Fairview on the night O’Keefe died, for civil conspiracy and violation of Read’s civil rights. 

“The individuals in the house diverted attention away from themselves toward Ms. Read,” Seligson said. “Then they collectively conspired to ensure that what happened in the house was not explored and investigated.”

Additionally Read plans to sue the town of Canton for negligent failure to secure the garage in the Canton police sallyport. 

“The days of Karen Read being on the defense are over,” Read’s defense attorney Alan Jackson said outside court.  

Karen Read civil lawsuit

Unlike the criminal trial that took place in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham under Judge Beverly Cannone, the civil suit is being heard in Plymouth Superior Court with Judge Daniel O’Shea presiding.

Paul O’Keefe, the brother of John O’Keefe, is the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit. Also listed as plaintiffs are O’Keefe’s parents and his niece, who he was taking care of at the time of his death.

The lawsuit argues that Read’s negligence and “reckless disregard for safety” that night caused O’Keefe’s death. It also alleges that Read “outrageously created a false narrative” about O’Keefe’s death. 

“Karen drives drunk. She reverses her SUV. She knocks J.J. down. She leaves him to die in the cold. And Read knows that she strikes the plaintiff,” O’Keefe family lawyer Marc Diller said. “The facts demonstrate that Ms. Read should have known that her extreme and outrageous conduct would be detrimental to these vulnerable plaintiffs.”

Additionally, the O’Keefe family is suing C.F. McCarthy’s and the Waterfall Bar and Grille in Canton. They say the two bars are liable for serving Read alcohol that night.

In her criminal trial, Read was only found guilty of operating under the influence of alcohol and received a year of probation.

After the hearing, Read was asked how it felt to be back in the courtroom. “Nothing like it did before,” Read said. “The hard part is over.”

Karen Read moves to dismiss part of lawsuit

Read is arguing to dismiss the O’Keefe family’s claim of “emotional distress” from the lawsuit, as the defense says the family was not present at the time of the alleged collision.

“The Defendant’s statements in which she questioned and/or denied striking the Decedent with her vehicle (allegedly creating a false narrative) or speculated that a snowplow may have struck the Decedent, do not rise to the level of intent toward the Plaintiffs,” a filing from the defense states. 

Read’s legal team will be somewhat different for the civil case. Alan Jackson, the lead defense attorney in her criminal trial, will be representing her again in the lawsuit. She will also be aided by attorneys Aaron Davis, Charles Waters and Seligson. 

Judge O’Shea said he envisions “a very long and complex process” for the civil case. He will decide whether some of the claims can be dismissed before another hearing on Nov. 21.

“My sense is that nobody is going to be ready to go to trial by the springtime,” he said. 

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Neal Riley

Neal J. Riley is a digital producer for CBS Boston. He has been with WBZ-TV since 2014. His work has appeared in The Boston Globe and The San Francisco Chronicle. Neal is a graduate of Boston University.