Judge issues 24-hour stay on Michael Proctor deposition in Karen Read case

We are following breaking news at 11. Lawyers for disgraced former state police trooper Michael Proctor asking a judge to delay his planned court appearance today. Proctor was scheduled to give a deposition in a wrongful death lawsuit filed against Karen Reed. There was a hearing about the issue this morning. Boston 25 News reporter Ryan Bresen live at Plymouth Superior Court with what the judge had to say about this, Ryan. Mikhail, Michael Proctor was subpoenaed in April for today's deposition. Today, the judge ordered a stay on that requirement for Proctor to appear for at least 24 hours. Attorneys will meet again later this afternoon. Lawyers for Michael Proctor and Karen Reed meeting over Zoom Monday morning after Proctor's attorney filed a protective order Friday. That order, an effort to move the date of his deposition in the wrongful death lawsuit against Karen Reed. Proctor's attorney filing papers four days before the deposition was set to take place. Within hours, my client and his family members received harassing phone calls pertaining to information contained in those affidavits. I think it's safe to assume that the clerk's office did not disseminate that information on a Sunday afternoon. Reed's attorney says this is a deposition they prepared for, strategically planned, and incurred costs. He says there is no sufficient reason provided family commitments or health issues that are impacting Proctor's ability to attend. Just last week, Karen Reed filed a new lawsuit against Massachusetts State Police and Canton Police alleging a system-wide failure of law enforcement led to her wrongful prosecution. It included text between Proctor and former Canton police officer Sean Good. The judge questioned whether that new action had to do with the strategic planning Reed's lawyer referenced. When I say strategic, I mean sequencing of their positions. Nothing to do with the Massachusetts State Police complaint we filed. Those dates aren't... There wasn't some kind of effort to impact the deposition with the filing of the complaint. The judge coming back from a recess agreeing there is insufficient information to support a delay in the deposition, he pointed out that Reed appeared on national news programs at the end of the week. Although there is no duty on Ms. Reed's counsel to have informed Mr. Proctor's counsel of the intent to file the most recently filed Bristol County action, I think it is unreasonable to have not done so with a scheduled deposition pending and then to have filed such action four days before the scheduled deposition. The judge says given the claims made in the filings over the weekend, he will delay making a final decision until this afternoon. They will meet again at 415. For now, we're live in Plymouth, Ryan Breslin. For your local station, Boston 25 News. And Boston 25's extensive coverage of the Karen Reed case spans more than four years. You can head to our website to view all of our coverage, including the full filing of Reed's lawsuit against Canton and State Police. Just visit boston25news.com.