While awaiting the hospital review board’s hearing, Ben took a leave of absence. Isaac made a deal to help Ben out if Ben would look after Curtis Thompson. Ben’s time with Curtis went so well, that Ben had Curtis as a foster son for another three months, and Isaac’s investigation proved fruitful, ultimately winding up in Ben’s complete exoneration. The two brothers have even become friends.

Ben was finally able to adopt Curtis. Ben and Lien became close while she took on the case to adopt Curtis. When Ben finally discovered Lien had contracted the rare (and usually fatal) Que-en-Jac disease, he promised to find a cure. Ben pursued this secretly, even though he promised only to be Lien’s boyfriend, not doctor.

He found a cure from the Far East, which worked miraculously. He hoped to keep this secret from Lien, but Tom wound up forced to tell her. When he proposed to her in front of both their families, she was coerced into accepting. She finally realized that she didn't love him as much as a marriage requires, rather she accepted his proposal because she felt beholden to him. Consequently, she called off the wedding and moved back to Washington, D.C., where she was to sit second chair on a family law case that was going before the U.S. Supreme Court.

It was because of Ben’s efforts that the Oakdale Free Clinic exists. Through their mediation of Bonnie and Isaac, Jessica and Ben rekindled their brief and failed relationship from years ago and fell in love. However, towards the end of Jessica’s campaign for re-election, Jessica became distant. Having no other explanation and catching her in lies about her whereabouts, Ben confronted Jessica about having an affair. Though she denied having the affair, Ben eventually found out when Marshall showed him a surveillance tape of him and Jessica making love. Ben left Jess. Soon after, when James shot Marshall in the head, Ben operated and after surpassing complications, he saved his life.

Note: Ben is a “history freak” into American History and African-American Culture. Big Chicago Cubs fan. Adept at origami!