Married Man Sues Over eHarmony Snub

March 31, 2006 — -- A California attorney is suing online dating giant eHarmony for refusing to find him a date.

John Claassen, 36, from Emeryville, Calif., filed a civil rights suit last week in Alameda County Superior Court claiming eHarmony is discriminating against him because of his marital status. The still-wed Claassen seeks $12,000 in civil penalties from the Web site.

"Most people don't file a suit to get a date," Claassen told a reporter for the Contra Costa Times. "If I had my druthers, I'd be divorced by now. I'm emotionally in a different state than I am legally."

Legally, Claassen and his wife of eight years have been separated since last May. But that's not enough for the Internet's fastest-growing relationship service. Unlike other photo personal sites, eHarmony offers its services to singles looking for more than just a casual encounter. They target singles who are ready to settle down and look for their soul mate.

"A lot of other Web sites make no attempt to make connections with people," said an eHarmony spokesman who asked that his name be withheld. "It's just like being in a big singles bar. We target singles looking for serious relationships, not just a quick date."

EHarmony would not comment on pending litigation.

That holistic approach to relationships could be why the Pasadena company has been so successful. In the last three years, its registered membership has nearly quadrupled, to a whopping 11 million members. EHarmony was founded by Neil Clark Warren, an author of several books on dating, love and marriage.

"Neil spent 35 years as a marriage counselor," said an eHarmony spokesman, "He's all about improving relationships and lowering divorce rates."

Perhaps it's that commitment and the assurance of getting matched up with someone who is not just in it for the hookup that is so appealing. The cyber matchmaker boasts more marriages per match than any other online dating service. A 2005 Harris survey reported that the Web site's pairings resulted in 33,000 wedded unions that year.