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Judge Declares Mistrial In 'Desperate Housewives' Case

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — A judge declared a mistrial Monday in the Nicollette Sheridan wrongful termination lawsuit after the jury deadlocked.

Jurors began deliberating Wednesday but were sent home early Friday after telling the judge they were deadlocked.

The jury returned to court Monday and told Judge Elizabeth Allen they could not reach a verdict, but indicated that they were split eight to four in favor of 48-year-old Sheridan.

"I looked at the fact that she was touched without her permission," said juror Beverly Crosby.

Crosby said there was no smoking gun in the case -- jurors spent time examining the defendant and interpret his actions.

Nine jurors must agree on a verdict in civil court.

KNX 1070's Ed Mertz reports Sheridan's legal team is already gearing up for a new trial.

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"You'd think we'd be disappointed, but we're not," said attorney Mark Baute. "We got the story out, we told the truth, twelve of our fellow citizens made a judgement, we came up one short, we'll do the dance again."

The actress sought $6 million from ABC. Sheridan claims her character Edie Britt was killed off the hit show "Desperate Housewives" after creator Marc Cherry allegedly hit her on the head during a on-set argument.

ABC and Cherry deny wrongdoing and said their decision to kill off her character was made prior to the dispute.

"Retaliation can be very subtle," said Crosby, in voted in Sheridan's favor.

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