April 26, 2025 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

Judge dismisses Nicollette Sheridan’s lawsuit regarding assault from “Desperate Housewives” creator

For the second time in less than a year, a judge today dismissed actress Nicollette Sheridan’s lawsuit alleging she was assaulted by “Desperate Housewives” creator Marc Cherry and eliminated from the series when she complained.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Stern’s ruling came less than two months after a three-justice panel of the 2nd District Court of Appeal found that the he erred when he issued a ruling in favor of the 50-year-old actress on Jan. 29 by giving the green light for a retrial.

Last Nov. 5, Stern found that Sheridan failed to present her grievances to the state Labor Commission within six months of the alleged September 2008 on-set incident and he tossed the actress’ case. He changed his mind two months later and said the retrial could go forward.

Touchstone lawyers maintained the November dismissal order represented a final determination of Sheridan’s one remaining claim and that Stern lacked jurisdiction to hear the motion for reconsideration. The state appeals court justices agreed and on Aug. 1 ordered Stern to vacate his January ruling and disallow the retrial, or show why it should be allowed to go forward.

Sheridan’s lawyers have also filed an appeal, but it involves the Nov. 5 dismissal order. They stated in their court papers that they did so as a precaution to preserve the actress’ rights in case the appeals court finds that Stern was wrong to assert he had jurisdiction to hear the January motion for reconsideration.

In their court papers, Sheridan’s lawyers argued that Stern still retained jurisdiction “because both parties and the trial court conceded that the trial court’s rulings on Touchstone’s renewed (dismissal motion) and the new trial motion were not final judgments.”

In the first trial, a jury in March 2012 deadlocked 8-4 in favor of Sheridan on her wrongful termination claim. But six months later, a three-justice panel of the 2nd District Court of Appeal found that Judge Elizabeth Allen White should have granted Touchstone’s motion for a directed verdict and dismissed the wrongful termination action.

The justices said the actress could not have a retrial of her wrongful termination claim, which was part of her original lawsuit filed in April 2010. Sheridan was allowed, however, to revise her complaint and make a claim under a section of the state Labor Code protecting employees from being fired or threatened with firing if they complain about workplace safety.

Cherry maintained in a sworn declaration that he met with other show writers in May 2008 to ponder upcoming story lines and they discussed whether to eliminate the Edie Britt role, played by Sheridan.

Cherry said he needed and eventually obtained the permission of Touchstone’s then-President Mark Pedowitz as well as that of ABC programming chief Steven McPherson, to write the Britt character out of the series. The meetings with Pedowitz, McPherson and the show’s producers were held in confidential settings, he says.

After exploring various ways to have Britt “killed,” Cherry and the producers ultimately decided she would lose her life in a car accident, he said.

Sheridan was told of the plans to eliminate her character in meeting with Cherry and the producers in February 2009, he said.

The show’s run ended in May 2012.

Related Posts

West Hollywood Braces for Controversial Rally, Reaffirms Commitment to Equality

April 25, 2025

April 25, 2025

City of West Hollywood Condemns Harmful Rhetoric Ahead of Planned Assembly City officials and public safety leaders in West Hollywood are preparing...

(Video) The Willows: 30 Years Going Strong

April 25, 2025

April 25, 2025

Founded in 1994, The Willows Community School, located in Culver City, California, is a Developmental Kindergarten through 8th grade non-profit, co-educational...

ASTEME Camps Explore Science, Technology, Math and Engineering

April 25, 2025

April 25, 2025

Many teachers and parents hear this question daily when it comes to schooling: “When am I ever going to use...

Skirball Center’s Puppet Festival Promises an Afternoon of Imagination and Play

April 24, 2025

April 24, 2025

SoCal’s Top Puppeteers Will Perform Alongside Live Music, DIY Puppet-Making The Skirball Cultural Center is set to transform into a...

Q&A: No Age Limit on Home Care Management & Home Safety, Tips from a Care Manager

April 24, 2025

April 24, 2025

In-home safety issues that go unnoticed — cracked sidewalks, broken railings or uneven flooring for example — are often the root...

Culver City Police Hosts DEA Drug Take Back Day on April 26

April 24, 2025

April 24, 2025

Dispose of Expired Prescriptions Safely and Anonymously The Culver City Police Department will participate in National Prescription Drug Take Back...

Former Cedars-Sinai OB-GYN Accused of Sexually Abusing Patients for Four Decades

April 24, 2025

April 24, 2025

Ten Women Say Their Reports Were Ignored as Brock Continued to Practice for Decades. A group of 10 women has...

LAX/Metro Station is One Step Closer to Transforming the Airport Commute

April 24, 2025

April 24, 2025

New Multi-Modal Metro Station Connects Angelenos to the Airport Metro Board Chair and Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn announced...

FBI Unravels Alleged Plot to Sell Stolen Andy Warhol Print in Beverly Hills

April 24, 2025

April 24, 2025

Mid-City Pawn Shop Owner Charged in High-Stakes Art Scheme The owner of a pawn shop in Los Angeles’ Mid-City neighborhood...

The Brian Jonestown Massacre Drops New Double A-Side Ahead of U.S. Tour

April 24, 2025

April 24, 2025

Legendary Psych-Rockers Set April 25 Release and Fall North American Tour The Brian Jonestown Massacre is set to release a...

(Video) Matú Kai Brentwood: The full experience

April 23, 2025

April 23, 2025

Sister restaurant to Matú in Beverly Hills, located at 11777 San Vicente Blvd. Sister restaurant to Matú in Beverly Hills,...

Uncle Stevey’s Bagels Wins Westside Hearts with Next-Level Bagels, Premium Sandwiches, and Local Coffee

April 23, 2025

April 23, 2025

Family-Run Shop Serves Delicious and Thoughtfully Curated Bagels With Love By Dolores Quintana A little more than a year since...

Santa Monica’s Socalo Toasts Pali Wine Co. with a Five-Course Culinary Celebration

April 23, 2025

April 23, 2025

Enjoy Celebrated Central Coast Wines, Including a 100-Point Red Blend Socalo, the acclaimed Mexican restaurant from celebrity chefs Mary Sue...

Go Go Bird Teams Up with Chef Chris Oh for Korean-Inspired Fried Chicken Sandwich

April 23, 2025

April 23, 2025

Crispy, Saucy, Spicy: Chris Oh’s Fried Chicken Sandwich Lands in Culver City Go Go Bird, located in Culver City’s Citizen...

Fogo de Chão Hosts Wine Lover’s Dream Night with Chilean Winery VIK

April 23, 2025

April 23, 2025

Diners Will Enjoy a Chef-Curated South American Menu, Highly Rated Wines Wine lovers and culinary connoisseurs are invited to gather...