Overview

• Karen Read is accused of causing the death of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O'Keefe, by hitting him with her SUV and leaving him in a snowstorm.
• A wrongful death lawsuit filed by O'Keefe's family also claims bars negligently served Read alcohol despite her intoxication.
• Read's initial criminal trial ended in a mistrial in July, and a retrial is scheduled for January 27, 2025.
• Her attorneys argue delaying the civil lawsuit is necessary to protect her legal rights and ability to defend against criminal charges.
• O'Keefe's family opposes the delay, citing Read's public statements and media appearances as undermining her Fifth Amendment claims.