Desperate Housewives cast line up to give evidence in Nicolette Sheridan trial as actress seeks $4m for 'wrongful dismissal'

Seeking damages: Nicolette Sheridan says she was wrongly fired from Desperate Housewives

The stars of Desperate Housewives are lined up to appear in court as former cast member Nicolette Sheridan seeks to prove she was wrongfully fired from the hit series.
Teri Hatcher, Marcia Cross, Eva Longoria and Felicity Huffman have all been named as witnesses in the trial that starts in Los Angeles today.
They have been called as witnesses for the show's creator Marc Cherry who is accused of sacking Sheridan after she accused him of striking her in the face over a script disagreement.
Sheridan is seeking $4m in lost income after she was killed off in the series in 2009.
The 48-year-old star was one of the original cast members of the series which has proved a worldwide hit but ends its eight year run later this year.
The British born star claims she was fired from her role as man-eater Edie Britt after she spoke up about Cherry's alleged assault during rehearsals.
She had originally wanted $20m after filing a lawsuit claiming wrongful termination, sexual harassment, emotional distress as well as assault a battery.

Witnesses: Creator Marc Cherry is calling the members of the cast as his witnesses in the trial, seen here Housewives Felicity Huffman and Eva Longoria

Heading to court: Marcia Cross and Teri Hatcher are also being called as witnesses for Cherry

A judge at a pre-trial hearing only allowed Sheridan to proceed with the wrongful termination and battery claims in her civil suit.

Complaint: The show's creator Marc Cherry

He also ruled that Sheridan could only get damages of one year’s salary, which is about $4m.
In a case that will be closely watched by Hollywood executives Sheridan claims she was killed off when she complained to bosses at the ABC Network about her treatment.
She alleges Marc Cherry slapped her across the face during an on set disagreement. Soon after her character in the series met a grisly end when her car hit an electrical pole.
The actress plans to call top ABC executives, including its former president Steve McPherson.
Sheridan's witness list also includes her entertainment lawyer, Neil Meyer, her publicist, Nicole Perna, and one of the show's former producers, Lori Kirkland Baker, according to the Hollywood Reporter magazine.
Cherry has named the other Desperate Housewives as his witnesses.
There are also 25 others including Neal Baer, a seven-time Emmy Award nominee on such shows as Law & Order: SVU and A Gifted Man who is said will offer his expert opinion on casting decisions in Hollywood.

Axe to grind: Nicolette - who played maneater Edie Britt - seen here with her co-stars in 2006 at the Golden Globe Awards

In court papers already filed ahead of the trial ABC TV lawyers said a character being killed off was routine.
'Death is as much a part of scripted television as it is a part of life,' says the papers.
'Of course, whenever a character dies, an actor loses a job. That is what happened here.'
The trial judge has refused to allow the proceedings, which began today with jury selection, to be televised.
The trial is expected to last up to 11 days.