O’Keefe family files wrongful death lawsuit against Karen Read, 2 Canton bars where couple drank

PLYMOUTH, Mass. — The family of deceased Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Karen Read and two Canton bars she was seen drinking at with O’Keefe before he was killed on January 29, 2022.

Read, 44, of Mansfield, is accused of hitting O’Keefe with her car and leaving him for dead outside a home at 34 Fairview Road.

The 22-page lawsuit is filed on behalf of John O’Keefe’s brother Paul, John O’Keefe II, John’s father, Margaret O’Keefe, John’s mother, and John’s niece and nephew, who he was raising at his Canton home after both of their parents died.

It names Karen Read, C.F. McCarthy’s and Waterfall Bar & Grill as defendants. The suit does not state the dollar amount the family is seeking. Instead, it demands, “…costs, compensatory and punitive damages, lost value of next of kin and any other relief this Court deems appropriate.”

The suit comes 3 days after Judge Beverly Cannone denied a motion to dismiss Read’s 2nd degree murder charge in her criminal case in advance of her 2nd trial. Read’s first trial ended with a mistrial on July 1st when the jury reported it was hopelessly deadlocked.

The Norfolk District Attorney’s Office has accused Read of striking O’Keefe with her Lexus SUV and leaving him to die in a snowstorm after a night of drinking. Read’s criminal defense team has argued that she’s been framed in a cover-up involving prosecution witnesses and law enforcement.

The lawsuit alleges, Read, “outrageously created a false narrative” and the O’Keefe family has suffered, “emotional injuries, severe physical pain, anguish, emotional distress and other harm… caused by defendant Read’s negligence.”

“In the months, weeks and days leading up to January 29, 2022, JJ (John) and defendant Read’s relationship was deteriorating. During such time, defendant Read picked fights, experienced jealousy, and had delusions of unfaithfulness,” the lawsuit claims.

Read and O’Keefe visited C.F. McCarthy’s on Washington Street in Canton and according to the suit, Read, “was served seven (7) alcoholic drinks between 8:58 pm and 10:29 p.m…” The suit alleges Read showed signs of intoxication and was allowed to leave C.F. McCarthy’s with a drink.

The person who answered the phone at C.F. McCarthy’s Monday afternoon declined to comment.

The suit alleges Read had “one shot and one mixed alcoholic drink” immediately after at Waterfall Bar & Grille, which is about a block away from C.F. McCarthy’s.

Messages Boston 25 News left for Waterfall Bar & Grille were not immediately returned.

Read’s criminal defense team did not immediately comment about the civil suit.

Boston 25 News legal analyst, Attorney Peter Elikann said, “I did expect to see a lawsuit at some point. Generally speaking, they often wait until the criminal case is completely over to do it. But there’s no rule that says that. The civil lawsuit is a different animal than the criminal lawsuit.”

Boston attorney Marc Diller represents the O’Keefe family. He did not immediately respond to a phone and email message.

Read the full wrongful death lawsuit:

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