Nicollette Sheridan jurors deadlocked

LOS ANGELES, March 17 (UPI) -- A Los Angeles Superior Court judge told deadlocked jurors in actress Nicollette Sheridan's suit against ABC to take the weekend to consider the case.

The jurors are deadlocked at an 8-4 vote, though which way the vote is leaning is unclear, The Hollywood Reporter said Friday.

At stake is Sheridan's $6 million civil lawsuit against ABC for wrongful dismissal from "Desperate Housewives." She said the network fired her for complaining about a confrontation she had with the show's executive producer, Marc Cherry, on set.

Sheridan's attorney, Mark Baute, said he believes the 8-4 is in her favor but thinks the presiding juror, who acts as a foreman for the group, is in the minority.

"The foreman is against us," Baute added. "He's the only juror I've seen in 26 years that came into the court in a panic and said they were deadlocked."

Judge Elizabeth Allen White said she doesn't think the extra time will push the jurors to a decision -- nine of the jurors must agree for a valid verdict, The Hollywood Reporter said.

"The message is pretty clear," she said of the jury. "They don't feel they can cross that bridge."