Nicollette Sheridan sues Desperate Housewives creator
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Former "Desperate Housewives" co-star Nicollette Sheridan has sued ABC and series creator Marc Cherry for $20 million, claiming she was assaulted on the set and wrongly fired.
In the suit filed Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court, Sheridan's attorneys claim Cherry struck the actress in the head after she questioned him about a point in a script in September 2008.
"After she complained to her employer about Cherry's improper behavior, Cherry arranged to have Sheridan terminated from the show, resulting in her losing millions in future earnings," the lawsuit said.
Sheridan said her compensation for the show was $175,000 an episode for the show's fifth season (when the assault allegedly occurred), $200,000 for the sixth and $250,000 for the seventh.
ABC did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Cherry could not be reached.
Cherry allegedly apologized, but then had her character killed off later in the fifth season. Sheridan claims she informed ABC about the whole mess but the company, whose divisions both produce and air the suburban dramedy, did nothing.
Among its claims, the seven-count lawsuit alleges wrongful termination, assault and battery, gender violence, discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation and age, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
