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Nicollette Sheridan knows how to keep her butt ... and her new man ... in check!

The former Desperate Housewives actress hit the beach to practice her martial arts moves. Whoa ... Ms. Sheridan is really getting into it! Perhaps she's blowing off steam after her recent court drama.

The 48-year-old actress filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against ABC and Touchstone seeking $5.7 million.

Sheridan says she was fired from the hit ABC show after complaining about an incident during filming in which show creator Marc Cherry gave her a "nice wallop" to the head.

In court last month, the judge declared a mistrial in the case after the jury deadlocked 8-4 in Sheridan's favor. Sheridan's lawyers were able to convince the judge to shorten the amount of time they have to request sanctions against Touchstone Television for bringing up the same issues during the trial.

Sheridan and her attorneys have until April 17 to file their sanctions. Both sides of the case will be back in court on April 18 ... which is when a new trial date will be set.

Click thru to see Nicollette getting wet and wild in the ocean.

Just a few short weeks after her $6 million lawsuit against ABC was declared a mistrial, the former Desperate Housewives star showed off her ageless bikini 'bod while enjoying a relaxing vacation in St. Barths -- with a new mystery man! -- on Thursday afternoon.

The 48-year-old flaunted her flat tummy and toned legs in a sexy blue bikini, before covering up for a romantic stroll on the beach with her man.

Sheridan's hit a career lull since creator Marc Cherry axed her character from Housewives in 2008 because of salary disputes, arguments over forgotten lines, and tardiness to rehearsals.

At least she still has her looks!

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Nicollette Sheridan is soaking up the sun in St. Barths with her new beau and putting her court drama behind her ... at least for now. Whoa, get a room!

The former Desperate Housewives actress filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against ABC and Touchstone seeking $5.7 million.

Sheridan says she was fired from the hit ABC show after complaining about an incident during filming in which show creator Marc Cherry gave her a "nice wallop" to the head.

In court last month, the judge declared a mistrial in the case after the jury deadlocked 8-4 in Sheridan's favor. Sheridan's lawyers were able to convince the judge to shorten the amount of time they have to request sanctions against Touchstone Television for bringing up the same issues during the trial.

Sheridan and her attorneys have until April 17 to file their sanctions. Both sides of the case will be back in court on April 18 ... which is when a new trial date will be set.

Nicollette Sheridan's Desperate Housewives case is heading to court!

In a hearing today, an LA judge gave the green light for Sheridan's $20 million lawsuit against the show's creator to go to trial.

"It is clear to the court that this is something that needs to go to a jury," Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Allen said.

Sheridan was present to hear the judge's decision; she had not appeared at other sessions for the case.

Sheridan, whose character on the hit ABC series was killed off, filed her complaint against creator Marc Cherry a year ago. She claimed the producer wrongly fired her and cited an incident in which he reportedly assaulted her in 2008.

The actress said he "forcefully hit her with his hand across her face."

Both Sheridan's former co-stars on the show and ABC have sided with Cherry in the case.

The trial begins June 8. See what Sheridan told reporters outside the courtroom today after the jump!

Yesterday Nicollette Sheridan removed claims of physical and mental abuse in her $20 million lawsuit against her former employer, Desperate Housewives creator Marc Cherry.

So what does this mean? The case will continue, but now that she's retracted the abuse claims, the defense has agreed to drop its request for the actress to submit to physical and psychological evaluations, according to Radar. Sheridan will still pursue lost wages, benefits and other financial compensation in the suit, which names Cherry, Touchstone Television Productions, ABC Studios and ABC Entertainment.

When Sheridan first filed suit last April, she alleged that during an on set squabble in September of 2008, Cherry "took her aside and forcefully hit her with his hands across her face and head." That's a pretty lofty accusation to make!

Looks like Nicollette Sheridan was desperate for a little attention last night at Madeo! The 46-year-old actress was snapped leaving the West Hollywood eatery with several friends, and she was generous enough to give us a peek at her cleavage AND sign autographs. What a doll!

Two months have passed since Nicollette Sheridan announced she was suing Desperate Housewives creator Marc Cherry for wrongful termination, assault and battery and discrimination. However sources close to the case say things are about to heat up.

Sheridan has filed an amended complaint to her original lawsuit, on the sly, in which she added the following two paragraphs:

In December 2008, Sheridan was informed that ABC had fully investigated her complaint and had concluded that she was not mistreated. In fact, the Executive Vice President of ABC Studios, Howard Davine, claimed that "Marc [Cherry] simply gave her a light tap on the side of her head for the sole purpose of providing direction for a scene they were rehearsing." With that, ABC decided to take no further action and closed the investigation, informing Sheridan that "we will finish off the season in the spirit of professionalism and courtesy that has been the normal course for Desperate Housewives."

However, rather than a season of "professionalism and courtesy," Sheridan was informed in February 2009 that her employment on the show was going to be terminated and that her character, Edie Britt, was being killed off the show. She was to film her final episode the last week of February 2009 and first week of March. Sheridan was given a strict publicity plan to follow to "break the story" that her character Edie Britt was leaving the Show.

X17online has reached out to Sheridon's lawyers, Mark Baute and Patrick Maloney, but they have yet to return our calls.

Well, the former Desperate Housewives actress continues to hang out in Malibu (wearing sweats, of course) with her adoring boyfriend and dog. Good to know Nicollette still has some friends! Who thinks her lawsuit against former boss Marc Cherry has any merit?