John O'Keefe's family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Karen Read and the restaurants where Read, O'Keefe, and friends partied on the night of O'Keefe's death. The wrongful death lawsuit was filed against his girlfriend, Karen Read, in August 2024, following her first criminal trial which resulted in a mistrial. The family claims Read was intoxicated and hit O'Keefe, then fabricated a cover-up. The lawsuit also includes the two bars, C.F. McCarthy's and Waterfall Bar and Grille, in Canton, Massachusetts, where Read and O'Keefe had been drinking. They claim the bars were negligent in serving Read excessive alcohol. Karen Read, was accused of hitting and killing O'Keefe with her SUV after a night of drinking. Read's criminal trial ended in a mistrial in 2024 due to a divided jury. In her second trial in 2025, she was acquitted of murder and manslaughter, but found guilty of driving under the influence (OUI). Read was sentenced to one year of probation. In August 2025, Read's attorneys filed a motion to dismiss the civil lawsuit claims for 'emotional distress'.