Lawyers Clash Over Karen Read’s Accidental ‘Reply All’ in Death Suit
Lawyers representing Karen Read are embroiled in a legal dispute concerning an email inadvertently sent to the family of her late boyfriend, Boston Police officer John O’Keefe. The controversy revolves around Read’s use of “reply all” on an email from her legal team on December 16, 2025, which resulted in the unintended disclosure of a privileged communication.
Accusations of Wrongful Death
The family of John O’Keefe has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Karen Read. They allege that Read struck O’Keefe with her SUV on January 29, 2022, after a night of heavy drinking. The family claims she left him to succumb to the cold outside a fellow officer’s home in Canton.
Email Controversy
Following the accidental email, attorneys for Read requested the O’Keefe family’s legal team to delete the message, arguing it contained privileged information. They asserted that only one email from her lawyers had been sent where Read was blind copied, marking it as an isolated incident that should not invalidate attorney-client privilege.
- In December, the email incident occurred during ongoing litigation.
- O’Keefe’s family claimed the email showed statements contradictory to Read’s prior sworn testimony.
- Read’s lawyers maintain that the email supports her latest under oath claims regarding a third-party culprit.
Legal Proceedings and Defense Strategy
The O’Keefe family’s attorneys have sent multiple interrogatories to Read, requiring detailed responses about her assertions asserting someone else caused O’Keefe’s death. Read’s defense, led by attorney Damon Seligson, argues that she has consistently answered these inquiries accurately and that the newer information aligns with her prior statements.
Read has adopted an affirmative defense strategy, attempting to shift blame to others allegedly involved in O’Keefe’s death. This aligns with her previous acquittal in a criminal trial regarding the same incident.
Pending Developments
Read has also filed a civil rights lawsuit against individuals involved in the investigation, arguing that significant evidence was destroyed, obscuring the truth about O’Keefe’s death. She highlighted inconsistencies in the prosecution’s narrative, including testimony suggesting O’Keefe had mobility prior to being found deceased.
A status hearing for the wrongful death lawsuit and discussions regarding the email matter is set for February 12 at 4 p.m. The resolution of this dispute could significantly impact the ongoing legal battles for both Karen Read and the O’Keefe family.
