Back in 2010, Desperate Housewives star Nicollette Sheridan famously filed a $20 million lawsuit against the series’ creator and producer Marc Cherry, claiming that she had been wrongfully fired from her position on the show and that Cherry had physically assaulted her. The case reached court in February of 2012, but was eventually declared a mistrial. In June, Sheridan and her attorney Mark Baute vocalized their intention to return the case to court as quickly as possible. However, it is now reported by The Huffington Post that the court has ruled that Sheridan was in fact not wrongfully terminated from the ABC program, but that she was released following the expiration of her contract.
The 2nd District Court of Appeal’s three-judge panel declared that Sheridan may not pursue a case for wrongful termination, but that she is still entitled to a case regarding the act of assault allegedly imparted upon her by Cherry — Sheridan claims that the Desperate Housewives creator struck her in the face and head in 2008. Her complaints about the alleged incident are what Sheridan has claimed were the reasons for her termination. Additionally, Sheridan may pursue a retaliation claim against Cherry on the grounds that the decision to not renew her contract might have arisen as a result of Sheridan’s initial complaints against Cherry.
The court’s ruling includes the following statement: “Sheridan cannot pursue a cause of action for wrongful termination in violation of public policy because, contrary to what she claims, she was not fired, discharged or terminated.”
Hollywood.com has reached out to Sheridan’s reps for comment.
[Photo Credit: David Edwards/Daily Celeb]
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