Four civil matters continue: two against Read and two filed by Read. Read’s state agency action has been transferred from Bristol to Plymouth Superior Court.
Paul O'Keefe Individually and Personal Rep of the Estate of John Joseph O'Keefe III et al. v. C&C Hospitality, LLC d/b/a C.F. McCarthy's et al.
John O'Keefe's family and estate allege that Read caused his death and that the two bars served her alcohol while she was visibly intoxicated. The defendants dispute the claims.
Court
Plymouth Superior Court
Docket
2483CV00692
Filed
Status
Open
Plaintiffs
Paul O'Keefe, individually and for John O'Keefe's estate; John O'Keefe II; Margaret O'Keefe; and Margaret O'Keefe as guardian of Kayley Furbush
Defendants
Karen Read; C&C Hospitality and G&S Hospitality, doing business as C.F. McCarthy's; and Waterfall Bar & Grill
Latest development
Court sets wrongful-death trial for April 2027
Judge Mark Gildea set a November 24 hearing on Rule 56 motions and an April 5, 2027 trial. The scheduling order also sets other pretrial dates.
What’s next
Rule 56 hearing scheduled
The court set a hearing on summary-judgment motions for November 24 at 10 a.m. The trial is scheduled for April 5, 2027 at 9 a.m.
Four witnesses from the criminal trials allege that Read and Kearney defamed them through statements about the investigation and their alleged roles in events surrounding O’Keefe’s death. Both defendants deny liability.
Court
Plymouth Superior Court
Docket
2683CV00541
Filed
Status
Open
Plaintiffs
Jennifer McCabe, Brian Albert, Colin Albert, and Brian Higgins
Defendants
Karen Read and Aidan Kearney
Latest development
Court denies both motions to stay the case
Judge Mark Gildea denied Read’s and Kearney’s requests to pause the case while they appeal the July anti-SLAPP rulings. The appeals remain pending, and discovery may continue.
What’s next
Discovery and appeals proceed
Read’s and Kearney’s answers are due September 30. No next Superior Court hearing is listed.
Read filed this action in Norfolk Superior Court on November 17, 2025. The defendants removed it to federal court on November 25. Read alleges civil-rights violations, malicious prosecution, conspiracy, and related claims arising from the investigation and prosecution. The defendants deny wrongdoing and have asked the court to dismiss the case.
Court
U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
Docket
1:25-cv-13588-DJC
Removed
Status
Open
Plaintiff
Karen Read
Defendants
Michael Proctor, Brian Albert, Jennifer McCabe, Matthew McCabe, Nicole Albert, Brian Higgins, Yuri Bukhenik, and Brian Tully
Latest development
The court heard the operative dismissal motions
Judge Denise J. Casper heard argument on the pending motions to dismiss and took them under advisement. The docket feed shows no later entry as of the latest check.
What’s next
A ruling on the dismissal motions
No decision date is listed. The next material development is expected to be the court’s ruling or another order on the pending motions.
Read alleges that the Massachusetts State Police and Town of Canton committed misconduct connected to the investigation and prosecution. The action is separate from her federal case against individual investigators and witnesses.
Court
Bristol → Plymouth Superior Court
Docket
2673CV00489 (Bristol)
Filed
Status
Transferred
Plaintiff
Karen Read
Defendants
Massachusetts State Police and Town of Canton
Latest development
Case transferred from Bristol to Plymouth
A September 14 order transferred the action to Plymouth Superior Court and specially assigned it to Judge Mark Gildea. The Bristol docket closed when the transfer was recorded on September 16.
What’s next
Proceedings in Plymouth Superior Court
The Town of Canton filed a motion to dismiss on September 4. The transfer order did not decide that motion; no next hearing is listed on the Bristol docket.
MassCourts links open the court search portal. Search the listed docket in its original court; the state agency action’s Bristol docket records its transfer to Plymouth.
This page records material developments rather than every administrative filing.
See the full case timeline →
Commonwealth v. Read — Trial Archive