A former actress on the hit TV show, “Desperate Housewives,” whose character was killed in a car accident has been told by a judge that her wrongful termination lawsuit can proceed to trial. Nicollette Sheridan filed a lawsuit against ABC and the show’s executive producer and creator, Marc Cherry, in April 2010. Sheridan claims that Cherry sexually harassed her and hit her during a fight. She also says that she was fired for unlawful reasons, including retaliation for complaining to her employers about how Cherry had treated her.
A judge said on Tuesday that Sheridan’s lawsuit against her former employer could proceed to a jury trial. The judge said that there was enough of a case for the claims of wrongful termination, battery and unlawful retaliation to be heard by a jury. The judge, however, tossed out Sheridan’s claims of sexual harassment and assault. Sheridan is seeking punitive damages and the judge said that she can continue to do so.
Sheridan’s character on “Desperate Housewives,” Edie Britt, was killed off during the middle of the season in a car accident. Sheridan claims that it was in retaliation for complaining about her treatment at work. ABC and Cherry claim that the plot twist was planned months before it happened, but not revealed so as not to spoil the surprise of it. They have also said the character’s death was meant to save money, but Sheridan and her attorney have questioned that because her character was killed in the middle of the season and she was still owed money on her contract.
Attorneys for ABC and Cherry say that Cherry never hit Sheridan and that she was fired for lawful reasons.
Source:
Judge clears ‘Housewives’ firing lawsuit for trial (The Seattle Times)
