Mistrial in Nicollette Sheridan Case
The judge in Nicollette Sheridan's wrongful termination trial against Desperate Housewives declared a mistrial on Monday after the jury remained deadlocked.
Judge Elizabeth Allen excused the jury -- which consisted of three men and nine women -- after it remained deadlocked 8-4 in favor of Sheridan's claim.
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The jury foreman reported on Friday that the group was "hopelessly deadlocked" so the judge gave
the members the weekend to think about the case and return Monday morning to resume deliberations. A vote of at least 9-3 was required to reach a verdict, but the jury could not break the 8-4 deadlock.
Sheridan's character Edie was killed off the hit ABC show in the fifth season and attorneys for the show claim the on-screen offing was a creative decision. However, Sheridan alleged in the lawsuit that she was fired for complaining that the show's creator, Marc Cherry, struck her during a fight in September 2008.
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The 48-year-old actress -- who earned $4 million a year as well as back-end profits -- was seeking economic damages of $5.7 million.
Sheridan left the courthouse in Los Angeles after the decision without speaking to reporters, but her attorney, Mark Baute, told reporters that he planned to re-try the case, according to the Associated Press.