The sitcom finally ends in May

Amaani Lyle claims she was sexually harassed while working as an assistant on the hit show in 1999.

Ms Lyle, who was sacked from her job, alleged writers also joked about turning Matt LeBlanc's character Joey into a serial rapist.

Ms Lyle is suing Friends producer Bright, Kauffman, Crane and three writers, who have denied the claims.

'Boasted'

She said one of the writers boasted that he could have sex with Brad Pitt's wife Jennifer Aniston, who plays Rachel.

"I would have to listen to comments about the sexual conduct many of the writers would like to do with Courteney Cox and Jennifer Aniston," Ms Lyle said.

Representing Ms Lyle, Mark Weidmann refused to say how much compensation his client was seeking, but he said similar cases had been settled for millions of dollars.

'Disturbing'

He said Ms Lyle "found her experiences very disturbing".

Lawyer Adam Levin, defending the writers and Bright, Kauffman, Crane, said talk of sex was necessary to the plot of the comedy.

The legal action was dismissed by a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge in 2002, but partly reinstated last week by an appeals court.

It refused to reinstate aspects of the initial complaint which alleged Ms Lyle had been sacked from the show because she was black and a woman.