EXCLUSIVE: Eyewitness To Incident Supports ABC In Nicollette Sheridan Lawsuit Against Desperate Housewives Producer

ABC has a secret weapon in its defense of Nicollette Sheridan’s headline-making lawsuit that alleges she was battered by Desperate Housewives creator/producer Marc Cherry.

The network has an eyewitness who saw the altercation and confirms Cherry’s story that he did NOT strike her, RadarOnline.com has learned exclusively.

The witness signed an affidavit, a source with direct knowledge of the situation told RadarOnline.com exclusively. And the eyewitness is available to testify if the case goes to trial.

RadarOnline.com has learned exclusively that the eyewitness says the “assault” alleged by Nicollette in her lawsuit was nothing more than producer Cherry lightly touching the top of her head as he was talking to her about how to act in a scene.

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“This is not Nicollette’s word against Marc’s. The witness is going to blow Nicollette’s case out of the water. Nicollette doesn’t have any witnesses to the incident who back up her side,” the source told RadarOnline.com exclusively.

In a lawsuit filed Monday, Nicollette -- who played promiscuous Edie Britt on the show for five seasons -- claims she was written off Housewives after she complained to ABC that Cherry had struck her in the face on Sept. 24, 2008. She is suing for $20 million.

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“People on the show feel this is a nuisance suit,” said the source. “But if she makes the rounds of the talk shows, it could get ugly for Marc.”