Karen Read's acquitted in second trial, but she still faces a civil trial
Karen Read may have been found not guilty of the most serious charges in the case related to the 2022 death John O'Keefe, a Boston police officer and her boyfriend at the time of his death, but her legal troubles aren't over yet.
In the second trial for the case, the jury found Read not guilty on charges of second-degree murder and leaving the scene of a collision resulting in death and guilty of leaving the scene of a collision resulting in death. They did find her guilty of operating a vehicle under the influence.
But in addition to the criminal case, Read, 45, is also facing a civil case over O'Keefe's death.
O'Keefe's family in August filed a civil lawsuit in Plymouth Superior Court against Read and two bars in Canton that she and O'Keefe visited before his death.
John O'Keefe's brother, Paul O'Keefe, and his estate filed a civil lawsuit in Plymouth Superior Court in August against John O'Keefe's girlfriend, Karen Read, and Canton bars C.F. McCarthy's and the Waterfall.
The suit is seeking at least $50,000 in damages including "reasonably expected society, companionship, comfort, guidance, counsel, net income, services, assistance, protection, care, and advice to next of kin."
The lawsuit states Read's conduct was "extreme and outrageous, beyond the bounds of decency and was utterly intolerable" and that she "outrageously created a false narrative."
Read's counsel filed motioned to stay the civil case until the criminal case is resolved, arguing that parallel civil and criminal proceedings could undermine Read's Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination.
Judge William White Jr. in November ordered the halt of Read's scheduled deposition in the civil case and any other discovery directly related to her. Other discovery proceedings were allowed to continue without pause, according to the ruling.
Now, that a verdict has been reached in the criminal trial, the civil trial can proceed.
This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Karen Read trial: What's the status of her civil trial?
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