INSIDE EDITION caught up with former Desperate Housewives cast member Nicolette Sheridan as her lawsuit against the show's producer gets underway in court.
Former Desperate Housewives star Nicollette Sheridan arrived for her big day in court.
The trial began over her wrongful termination lawsuit against ABC and Desperate Housewives executive producer Marc Cherry.
Sheridan claims her character—memorably electrocuted in 2009—was killed off because she spoke out after Cherry allegedly abused her.
In the trial at a Los Angeles courthouse, Sheridan said Marc Cherry slapped her across the face in 2008 when they argued during a rehearsal over a line of dialogue that had been cut out of the script. After she complained to higher-ups at ABC, she claimed she was fired from the show in retaliation for speaking up.
Cherry's lawyers call the claim "preposterous," and say the actress was rude and difficult and couldn't remember her lines.
"Death is as much a part of scripted television as it is a part of life," they wrote in court papers, "Of course, whenever a character dies, an actor loses a job. That is what happened here."
Sheridan originally asked for $20 million in damages if she wins, but the judge says the most she can collect is $4 million - the equivalent of one year's salary on Desperate Housewives.
INSIDE EDITION's Jim Moret asked attorney Debra Opri if this was a tough case for Sheridan.
Opri answered, "I think so. I think it is. Every case there is going to be a settlement at some point in time. I think this is a matter of ego at this time, on both sides."
Desperate Housewives is now in its final season on ABC and the lawsuit may provide a juicy look behind the scenes of Wisteria Lane.
Stars Eva Longoria, Felicity Huffman, Terri Hatcher, and Marcia Cross have carefully avoided taking sides in the dispute, but are expected to testify.
"I feel bad for all the co-stars more than anyone else, because they are brought in to take sides," said Opri.
