When an environmental scientist, Dr. Oscar Silva, is poisoned during a global warming symposium, Detectives Cyrus Lupo and Kevin Bernard initially suspect competitors from Dr. Silva's field of study. It is soon discovered that Dr. Silva is involved in a messy custody battle with his wife's ex-husband, Phillip Shoemaker and the focus of the investigation quickly shifts to the victim's family. Meanwhile, the case becomes personal for Cutter as it stirs up unpleasant memories from his own past.

Episode Viewers and Ratings

Season 20 Episode 18 of Law & Order resulted in a 0.00 rating in the 18-49 demographic.

Law & Order Season 20 Episodes...

• s20e01 - Memo from the Dark Side
• s20e02 - Just a Girl in the World
• s20e03 - Great Satan
• s20e04 - Reality Bites
• s20e05 - Dignity
• s20e06 - Human Flesh Search Engine
• s20e07 - Boy Gone Astray
• s20e08 - Doped
• s20e09 - For the Defense
• s20e10 - Shotgun
• s20e11 - Fed
• s20e12 - Blackmail
• s20e13 - Steel-Eyed Death
• s20e14 - Boy on Fire
• s20e15 - Brilliant Disguise
• s20e16 - Innocence
• s20e17 - Four Cops Shot
• s20e18 - Brazil
• s20e19 - Crashers
• s20e20 - The Taxman Cometh
• s20e21 - Immortal
• s20e22 - Love Eternal
• s20e23 - Rubber Room

Law & Order Show Summary

This realistic yet fictional drama looks at crime and justice from a dual perspective. In the first half-hour, Detectives Joe Fontana and Edward Green investigate crimes and apprehend suspects under the supervision of their precinct lieutenant, Anita Van Buren. The focus shifts in the second half-hour to the criminal courts as Executive Assistant District Attorney Jack McCoy and Assistant District Attorney Borgia work within a complicated justice system to prosecute the accused under the guidance of District Attorney Arthur Branch.

Some cases may be simple, but most are multi-faceted. The investigations are challenging, prosecutions are complicated, and decisions about legal procedures and plea-bargaining are vexing. In the arduous and complex process of determining guilt and innocence, lives often hang in the balance.