Locomotion (18 May 2005)

A failed suicide attempts leads to a train crash that kills 12 people. The defendant's attorney initially offers an insanity defense. However, he is soon fired, as the defendant represents himself and changes his plea.

Writers:

Eric Overmyer, Roz Weinman,

Stars:

Dennis Farina, Michael Imperioli, S. Epatha Merkerson

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Dennis Farina	...	Detective Joe Fontana
Michael Imperioli	...	Detective Nick Falco
S. Epatha Merkerson	...	Lt. Anita Van Buren
Sam Waterston	...	Jack McCoy
Annie Parisse	...	A.D.A. Alexandra Borgia
Fred Dalton Thompson	...	D.A. Arthur Branch
Joseph Lyle Taylor	...	Davey
Peter McRobbie	...	Judge Walter Bradley
Matte Osian	...	James Buckley
J.D. Jackson
Doc Dougherty
Giancarlo Esposito	...	Rodney Fallon
Marsha Stephanie Blake	...	Clinic Doctor
John Randolph Jones	...	Engineer
John Boyd	...	Zach Burns

Storyline

Detectives Joe Fontana and Nick Falco investigate when a commuter train strikes an SUV parked on the tracks. A dozen people are killed but it's not clear which of the dead or injured might have put the car there. It leads them to Davey Buckley who admits that he tried to commit suicide that day. In court his lawyer, Rodney Fallon, tries to present an insanity defense but mid-way through the trial, Buckley fires him and changes his plea to guilty.

---

Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

---

Details

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 May 2005 (USA)

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Wolf Films, NBC Universal Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jesse L. Martin was absent from the last four episodes of the fifteenth season. He left the show temporarily to work on Rent. His character, Det. Green, was shot in the line of duty. For those four episodes, Martin was replaced by Michael Imperioli as Det. Falco.

User Reviews

I don't make social policy.

Any episode of Law & Order is worth watching, but some are way above others.

With the exception of Sam Waterson, this is the worst cast of the series: Dennis Farina, Michael Imperioli, and Annie Parisse are all the least of the characters in their respective roles.

The case was interesting in that a man tried to commit suicide and 12 people ended up dead instead. His lawyer, capably played by Giancarlo Esposito, tried to indict the social services not provided by the State for his client's condition.

It turns out, however, that he was just an alcoholic loser.