A construction coordinator on the show says he mistakenly received an email which suggests that the network tries to destroy record of correspondence related to Nicollette Sheridan's departure.
- Mar 13, 2012
AceShowbiz - A mystery witness was revealed in "Desperate Housewives" trial on Monday, March 12. Nicollette Sheridan's attorney said that Michael Reinhart, a construction coordinator on the show, told him he received an email which suggests that ABC, Disney and series creator Marc Cherry conspired to cover up the real reason why the actress was fired from the show in 2009.
"I'm an employee of Desperate Housewives," said the self-described real low-level employee, Mike, in a voicemail. "I received an email soon after Nicollette filed suit; I think it was meant for a much narrower distribution, but it regarded having IT come in and wipe clean the hard drives of the producers in response to the correspondence that they've had, email-wise, about firing Nicollette."
"Um, I think I got it by mistake. I believe they were going to have the Disney IT person come in to do the sweeping of the hard drive...that's about all I know. You obviously can check this number and figure out who I am but I really don't want to get involved." He added, "I shouldn't have got that email, I'm on the general email list."
Judge Elizabeth Allen White ordered the man to appear in court Tuesday morning before she determines whether he will become one of the final witnesses that jurors in the case will hear from.
Responding to the email referenced in the voicemail, Cherry's attorney Adam Levin said, "We've presented a number of different witnesses all testifying that the decision to kill Edie Britt was made long before September, 2008. Today's antics by the plaintiff, conjuring up mysterious emails, appears to be a last ditch effort save to her case."
"At the 11th hour we saw the plaintiff handing out transcripts and it all seemed very orchestrated," he added. Met outside the courtroom, he told E! Online, "I wanna see the emails, because I am not buying it."
Closing arguments in the trial are likely to happen Tuesday. Sheridan is seeking $6 million in compensation in the battery and wrongful termination lawsuit against Cherry and ABC.
