Cleared of murder charges following her second trial, Karen Read from Massachusetts might consider taking legal action against several individuals and government entities associated with her case, as suggested by legal experts.

“She has grounds to sue the individual officers who breached her privacy by conducting an incomplete, inaccurate, and incompetent investigation,” said Linda Kenney Baden, a defense lawyer in New York City who has represented clients like Aaron Hernandez, Phil Spector, and Casey Anthony.

“Additionally, she [may] file a lawsuit against the Commonwealth and the Massachusetts State Police for failing to train their officers to conduct a competent investigation and to respect her privacy – leading to her wrongful arrest in violation of the U.S. Constitution.” 

She may also have a malicious prosecution claim, Kenney Baden said.

Paul O’Keefe, brother of John O’Keefe, listens to testimony during the Karen Read murder trial in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., May 9, 2025. (Mark Stockwell/The Sun Chronicle via AP, Pool)

“She theoretically could sue one or more of the officers or investigators for violation of her constitutional rights, for fabricating reports or false submission of evidence,” said Randolph Rice, a Maryland-based attorney who has followed the case. “Then the issue becomes the supervising agency, [which] may deny liability because they will argue that it’s outside the scope of that investigating officer’s employment.”

He said embattled police may be in the clear, however, because they did establish probable cause before a grand jury.