THE family of Karen Read’s deceased boyfriend might never achieve justice in their wrongful death lawsuit following a crucial decision made by the jury in her murder trial, according to a legal expert.
A jury acquitted Read, 45, this week of leaving John O’Keefe, a Boston police officer, to die in a snowstorm after hitting him with her car.
Read has consistently denied that she killed her boyfriend outside a house party in 2022, claiming she was being framed by the police as part of a cover-up regarding O’Keefe’s death.
And after the 36-day murder trial, a jury ruled that she didn’t even hit him her car – and only found her guilty of drunk driving.
She was sentenced to one year of probation and classes.
Despite facing a wrongful death suit filed by O’Keefe’s family in 2024, she could potentially evade it, as the jury in her criminal trial did not conclude that she struck him.
The civil case has been on hold pending the outcome of the trial.
Neama Rahmani, president of Los Angeles-based West Coast Trial Lawyers, spoke to The U.S. Sun about the verdict and Read’s future legal drama.
He said, “The verdict is nothing less than a complete and total vindication for Read, her supporters, and her defense team.
“One-year probation is nothing, not even a slap on the wrist.
“I tip my hat to them, but I also have to call out the Commonwealth for one of the most botched investigations and poorly handled prosecutions – twice – in the state’s history.
“There are too many mistakes to name, but I’ll start with the conflict of interest, mishandled evidence, overcharging the case, unprofessional and offensive law enforcement witnesses, dishonest expert witnesses, and a failure to understand and counter the public relations battle.
“The prosecution spent millions of dollars to secure the most expensive OUI/DUI conviction ever.”
The investigation was widely criticized for being botched due to a failure to treat the scene as a crime scene, especially given the involvement of police officers at the location where the victim was found.
While dealing with heavy snow, investigators used solo cups and plastic bags instead of proper evidence bags, the jury heard.
The lead investigator, Michael Proctor, also faced accusations of bias due to offensive text messages he sent about Read.
Rahmani explained, “The jury didn’t even find that Read struck O’Keefe with her vehicle, just that she was driving under the influence of alcohol, which Read admitted to during her many interviews.
“The wrongful death trial has a different, lower standard, but the O’Keefe family’s civil attorneys have an uphill battle in proving liability in that case.
“The criminal jury unanimously found that Read was driving drunk, but that she did not hit O’Keefe.
“The civil jury would have to come to the complete opposite conclusion.
“It’s possible, but unlikely given the fact that two different juries have now found that Read did not kill O’Keefe and leave the scene of the accident.”
The O’Keefe family first filed the wrongful death suit in Plymouth Superior Court in Brockton in August 2024 after Read’s first criminal trial ended in a mistrial due to a hung jury.
The suit is seeking at least $50,000 in damages for “conscious pain and suffering, fear of impending death, wrongful death, lost value to next of kin, severe and profound emotional distress manifesting in bodily symptoms, and other compensable damages.”
A judge ruled that Read would only be deposed or questioned after her criminal trial.
The family is also suing the two bars she was drinking at on the night he died; C.F. McCarthy’s and the Waterfall Bar and Grille in Canton.
They believe the venues are liable for serving Read alcohol before she drove her car in a state of intoxication, risking grave injury or death to John O’Keefe.
Los Angeles trial attorney Tre Lovell told The U.S. Sun she still has to deal with the civil suit for months to come.
“In the civil suit, she will be required to testify, meaning she has no right against self-incrimination such as during a criminal trial, and the burden of proof is much lower, a preponderance of the evidence instead of beyond reasonable doubt,” he said.
“She still could be facing exposure to significant monetary damages.
“If there are similar issues that existed in her criminal trial pertaining to whether or not she was intoxicated while driving, such could be used in her civil trial and not need to be revisited due to issue preclusion.”
O’Keefe’s family quickly left court after the verdict was read out on Wednesday, and are yet to comment.
A longtime friend of the officer told NBC10 Boston that they are devastated and feel as though it has been a three-and-a-half-year nightmare.
Protesters outside the courthouse wore pink and hugged each other after the verdict was read, as some broke out singing God Bless America.
Read told reporters, “No one has fought harder for justice for John O’Keefe than I have. Than I have, and my team.”
The Massachusetts State Police have broken their silence following the verdict in a statement released Thursday morning.
State police Col. Geoffrey Noble said the case has pushed the department to thoroughly review their actions and take concrete steps to deliver advanced investigative training, ensure appropriate oversight, and enhance accountability.
“Under my direction as Colonel, the State Police has, and will continue to, improve in these regards,” he said. “Our focus remains on delivering excellent police services that reflect the value of professionalism and maintain public trust.”
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