Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed in Response to Boston Police Officer’s 2022 Death

After the recent death of a Boston Police Officer, his brother filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the officer's girlfriend and two Canton area bars.

The Case: Paul O’Keefe v. C&C Hospitality d/b/a C.F. McCarthy’s, G&S Hospitality, Waterfall Bar & Grill, and Karen Read

The Court: Plymouth Superior Court

The Case No.: 2483 CV00692

The Plaintiff: Paul O'Keefe v. C.F. McCarthy's, Waterfall Bar & Grill, and Karen Read

In January 2022, 16-year veteran Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe and his girlfriend, Karen Read, a former adjunct professor at Bentley College, went barhopping at C.F. McCarthy's and Waterfall Bar & Grill. Read dropped O'Keefe off at Brian Albert's, a fellow Boston police officer, for a party. O'Keefe was later found dead outside Albert's home. The autopsy indicated O'Keefe died of blunt force trauma and hypothermia. Prosecutors claim Read hit him with her SUV and then left the scene. Read's legal counsel claims O'Keefe was actually killed inside the home and then dragged outside. They argued that police investigators focused on Read because doing so allowed them to avoid considering other law enforcement officers as suspects. O'Keefe's brother filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Read, the girlfriend, and two Canton, Massachusetts bars O'Keefe visited before going to the party at Albert's.

The Defendants: Paul O’Keefe v. C&C Hospitality d/b/a C.F. McCarthy’s, G&S Hospitality, Waterfall Bar & Grill, and Karen Read

The defendants in the case are O'Keef's girlfriend, Karen Read, who dropped him off at his fellow officer's home after they went out drinking at two local Canton bars (and allegedly hit him with her vehicle before leaving), and two Canton, Massachusetts bars: C.F. McCarthy's and Waterfall Bar & Grill. Read claims she did not harm O'Keefe. O'Keefe's family members allege the bars served alcoholic beverages to a visibly intoxicated person. C.F. McCarthy's denies their involvement in the death of O'Keefe.

The Case: Paul O’Keefe v. C&C Hospitality d/b/a C.F. McCarthy’s, G&S Hospitality, Waterfall Bar & Grill, and Karen Read

O'Keefe filed the wrongful death lawsuit in August 2024 in Plymouth Superior Court. In addition to wrongful death, O'Keefe alleges negligent infliction of emotional distress.

If you have questions about filing a California wrongful death suit, reach out to Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik DeBlouw L.L.P. Experienced wrongful death attorneys are available at various law firm offices in San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Riverside, and Chicago to assist you.