'Housewives' Sheridan 'permitted to sue'

Nicollette Sheridan has reportedly been told that her case against Desperate Housewives creator Marc Cherry is valid.

The 46-year-old accused Cherry and ABC of alleged assault and battery, gender violence, wrongful termination and discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation and age.

However, lawyers of the network argued that Sheridan was filing three separate claims which caused uncertainty.

The judge responded: "Although annoying, inconvenient and inconsiderate, the failure to separate the three distinct wrongs does not result in an inability to understand what is alleged."

Sheridan is suing for $20m (£12.9m) and the case can now be taken to open court as both parties refused mediation.

The actress first filed the lawsuit in April and claimed that Cherry hit her in the face when she complained to ABC.

Sheridan was written out of Desperate Housewives in September 2008.