The family of a Boston police officer, John O’Keefe, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Karen Read, the Massachusetts woman accused of killing him in a drunk driving incident. The suit also names two bars, C.F. McCarthy’s and Waterfall Bar & Grille, for allegedly serving Read alcohol when she was already intoxicated. Read’s criminal trial in O’Keefe’s death ended in a mistrial, with jurors unable to reach a unanimous verdict on the charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter, and leaving the scene of a collision. Four jurors claimed the panel reached not guilty verdicts on two charges, but remained deadlocked on the manslaughter charge. Prosecutors plan to retry the case in January.
The lawsuit alleges that Read ran O’Keefe over with her SUV after an argument outside the home of a former Boston police officer in Canton. Read’s defense team claimed that law enforcement officers framed her for the killing. The suit also accuses Read and the bars of negligent infliction of emotional distress. It states that C.F. McCarthy’s served Read seven drinks over a short period, while Waterfall Bar & Grille also served her alcohol shortly before the incident. Read’s lawyers have alleged that O’Keefe was likely beaten inside the home and left outside in the snow before Read discovered his body the next morning. Read’s criminal defense lawyer did not respond to requests for comment, and efforts to reach her were unsuccessful.
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