Award winning actor/director Forest Whitaker begins a six-episode arc as Curtis Ames, a carpenter who suffers a stroke under Luka's care and then sues him for malpractice. In the opener, Luka and Ames square off in court as each man's recollections of Ames's treatment are recounted via testimony and flashbacks. Meanwhile, Luka worries about the implications of the suit and the possible outcomes. Abby returns to work and must adjust to the dramatic changes in her life. An equipment shortage hampers Pratt, Abby, and Neela's treatment of a patient, leading them to attempt a risky procedure. Pratt's early morning trip to the barbershop results in a new awareness of community need.

A belligerent young man with flu symptoms presents a challenge to Morris and Sam when he refuses treatment. Luka and Abby's childcare emergency means balancing baby care with patient care in the ER until a nanny can be found, but the candidates prove less than satisfactory. Luka has an uneasy encounter with Curtis Ames at the hospital, and later Abby and Baby Joe have a "chance" encounter with Ames at the park. Pratt discovers a local church's risky drug exchange program. Neela and Gates square off at an M&M.