Deadlocked ‘Desperate Housewives’ jury to keep deliberating

 

Jurors deliberating actress Nicollette Sheridan's wrongful termination claim against the creator of "Desperate Housewives" must resume their work Friday morning even though they said they were deadlocked.

 

On Thursday, after a day of deliberations, the foreman reported that the jury was split, though he did not reveal how. Nine of 12 jurors must agree to render a verdict.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Elizabeth White told the jury to spend the evening relaxing and return refreshed Friday morning at 10 a.m.

Sheridan, 48, alleged during the two-week trial that her character was killed off the ABC soap in retaliation for a complaint she made accusing creator Marc Cherry of striking her in the head during a rehearsal.

Cherry and his co-defendant, Touchstone Television Production, maintain that he only tapped her on the head to demonstrate a stage direction and had decided to eliminate her character months before.

Sheridan, who earned $4 million a year as well as back-end profits, is seeking economic damages of $5.7 million.

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-- Harriet Ryan

Left photo: Nicollette Sheridan Credit: Valerie Macon / Getty Images

Right photo: Marc Cherry Credit: Nick Ut / Associated Press