’s lawyers are asking a judge to force the Massachusetts State Police to turn over hundreds of emails the agency claims it is barred from disclosing, arguing the emails could aid Read’s defense in the wrongful death lawsuit she faces.
The State Police claims it can’t turn over the materials to Read’s team because of what’s known as the work product doctrine, which exempts the “legal research, opinions, theories, or conclusions of the adverse party” from discovery. And while Read’s criminal case has ended, the agency says the protection extends to subsequent litigation, even if it is unrelated.
It’s not clear what exactly is in the emails that Read’s team wants access to, a point it raises in court papers…