The Next Life

what happens

After deciding to work together, Nick and Burton Fallin return to the old offices of Fallin & Associates to create a new firm, Fallin & Fallin. Finally working on equal ground, Nick and Burton's first big client turns out to be Allegheny County Hospital, which is under scrutiny as one of the nurses is arrested and confesses to killing patients in the oncology department during his shifts. The hospital faces several potential lawsuits from the family members of the patients who died. To assemble a strong team of attorneys, Nick and Burton bring in James Mooney to help with the case but soon discover that his grandmother died in that very hospital just a few months earlier. James immediately removes himself from the case but he eventually gives into his desire to fight for the underdogs and tries to find representation for the family members. Meanwhile, Nick is also thrown into a case as a favor to Laurie Solt, where he must defend a child's right to attend an adoption party. This is a concept that Alvin Masterson finds reprehensible, as he believes it treats the children as though they are cattle to be sold at market.

who made it

directed

Joan Tewkesbury

written

David Hollander

guest cast

Billed for this episode only — the turn people remember an episode for.

• Kerry Washington as Drea Westbrook
• Denise Dowse as Rebecca Damsen
• Kathleen Chalfant as Laurie Solt
• Floyd Van Buskirk as Gill Mueller
• Roger Guenveur Smith as Reginald Harris
• Victor McCay as Martin Keenan
• SSarah Rayne as Jena
• Harry Johnson as Edgar Suatoni