Nicollette Sheridan Denied Effort to Revive 'Desperate Housewives' Trial

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Nicollette Sheridan

A Los Angeles Superior Court  judge on Friday accepted a summary judgment ending the long battle by Nicollette Sheridan against ABC over the circumstances that led to her being dropped from the show Desperate Housewives. Sheridan had sought a new trial based solely on her claim that ABC retaliated against her for complaining about working conditions. The trial was to start Dec.  2.

Sheridan had initially filed a $20 million lawsuit in 2010 against ABC and Desperate Housewives creator and executive producer Marc Cherry. The case came to trial Feb. 2012 where the actress said she was dropped after she told the network that Cherry had been abusive to her and others cast and crew and had struck her while they were on the set. ABC had claimed it was unaware of any abuses by Cherry. The abuse claim was removed in late 2010.

EARLIER: Nicollette Sheridan's Lawyer Says No One Will Hire Her

Prior to the trial, the judge also ruled Sheridan at most could collect one year of her salary, and forbade her from claiming Cherry was rude to other cast members.

During the trial Cherry admitted he had “tapped” to demonstrate a physical gag in the upcoming scene. He said he planned to kill off her character in advance of that incident. Cherry also said Sheridan had been unprofessional on the set.

Sheridan testified, as did the shows producers, some ABC executives and actor James Denton. On March 19, 2012, the jury returned and said it was unable to reach a verdict. A mistrial was declared and a retrial scheduled. However, before that could happen, an appeals court said Sheridan had been wrongfully fired and canceled the retrial. The appeals court said ABC’s decision not to re-hire the actress was legal because she had been an at-will employee, and they had the right not to re-sign her after he contract ended.

The court did rule Sheridan could file an amended lawsuit alleging that ABC retaliated against her for complaining about unsafe working conditions. Another appeal by Sheridan to the California Supreme Court was rejected on Nov. 16, 2012, at which time they said she could have another trial based solely on her claim that ABC retaliated against her for complaining about working conditions.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/THREsquire/~3/dZwipj74X40/story01.htm
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