Karen Read Cleared of Murder: Legal Experts Say Lawsuits Against State, Police Could Follow

After being acquitted of all charges in the high-profile murder case of Boston police officer John O’Keefe, Massachusetts woman Karen Read could now turn the tables and file lawsuits of her own, according to multiple legal experts.

Read, who had been accused of striking her boyfriend with her SUV and leaving him to die in a snowbank in January 2022, walked out of a Norfolk courtroom on June 19, 2025, a free woman after a jury found her not guilty of second-degree murder and other charges. It was her second trial; the first ended in a deadlock.

Now, attorneys say, she may have strong grounds to pursue civil action against both individuals and agencies involved in the prosecution.

“She has every right to sue both the individual officers who violated her privacy, who conducted an incomplete and incompetent investigation,” said high-profile New York defense attorney Linda Kenney Baden. “And she may also go after the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the State Police for failing to train their officers properly.”

Grounds for Lawsuits: From False Arrest to Malicious Prosecution

According to Baden and others, several legal avenues may be open to Read. These include:

False arrest under the U.S. Constitution;

Invasion of privacy by officers leaking case details to civilians;

Negligent training and supervision of officers by state entities;

Malicious prosecution, especially if evidence suggests misconduct by the district attorney’s office.

“She lost two jobs because of this,” Baden added. “She sold her home to fund millions in legal fees. Now she has every reason to seek compensation.”

Philadelphia-based defense attorney David Gelman agreed, noting that Read might sue not only local police in Canton but also Massachusetts State Troopers and potentially state prosecutors.

“If it turns out through discovery that the prosecutor’s office coordinated or acted improperly, they’re exposed,” he said.

Targeting the Canton Police and State Troopers

Legal observers believe the most obvious targets are the Canton Police Department and individual officers or investigators, especially former State Trooper Michael Proctor.

Proctor was fired following a state police review that found he shared sensitive case information with civilians, mocked Read’s medical conditions, and exhibited behavior unbecoming of a lead homicide investigator.

“That’s an open door for a constitutional rights claim,” said Randolph Rice, a Maryland-based attorney. “Fabricating reports or submitting false evidence can lead to a federal civil rights lawsuit. And even if the agency tries to distance itself, the question becomes: was it within the scope of employment?”

Insurance, Settlements, and the Strategic Play

Baden pointed out that any lawsuits filed by Read would likely target as many individuals and agencies as possible — especially those covered by liability insurance.

“The goal is to have deep pockets and insurance policies to recover from,” she said. “This is not about going after one person. It’s about financial restitution.”

But legal experts also noted that while Read may sue, she also faces litigation herself. The family of John O’Keefe, who still believes she’s responsible for his death, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against her.

Baden suggested this could lead to a complex courtroom showdown involving cross-claims and third-party liability.

“She may counter-sue the two bars that served her alcohol that night,” Baden said. “Because remember, jurors still found she was driving intoxicated.”

Those bars are already named in a separate civil suit brought by the O’Keefe family.

What’s Next for Karen Read?

Though she has yet to speak publicly about her legal plans, Read’s defense team has hinted at potential litigation in the aftermath of the verdict.

Legal analysts expect that if lawsuits are filed, discovery could reveal damaging behind-the-scenes communications among investigators, police supervisors, and possibly prosecutors — especially during her first trial, which ended with a hung jury and the removal of the lead detective.

As for public reaction, the case remains divisive. While Read has received overwhelming support from some online communities who believe she was framed, others remain convinced of her guilt despite the acquittal.

Still, her not-guilty verdict — delivered after weeks of testimony and fierce cross-examinations — means she is now legally free to pursue justice on her own terms.

“This case may have ended in criminal court,” said attorney Rice, “but in the civil system, things are just getting started.”