In May 2025, the family of Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Plymouth Superior Court against Karen Read and two Canton bars, McCarthy’s and Waterfall.
The civil complaint alleges that Read struck O’Keefe with her SUV and left him outside in freezing conditions on January 29, 2022. It also claims the two bars were negligent for overserving Read alcohol that evening, contributing to the events that led to O’Keefe’s death.
In response, the bars each filed formal answers to the complaint, denying liability and arguing they were not responsible for Read’s actions after she left their establishments.
After her criminal trial acquittal, Karen Read also filed an answer denying the allegations, while simultaneously moving to dismiss the lawsuit.
The O’Keefe family, represented by attorney Marc Diller, submitted an affidavit supporting their claims and a list of exhibits intended to substantiate their allegations.
The motion to dismiss and accompanying exhibits will likely shape the early trajectory of this litigation.
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