A Miami man sued the online dating service eDateMe on Thursday, alleging its membership fee is used to solicit prostitution from its own members. Allan George said he was solicited several times to have sex since eDateMe has allowed existing gay and lesbian members to openly use its services.
When Mr. George wrote to eDateMe to complain, the company refused to change its open policy, according to the lawsuit filed on his behalf in Los Angeles County Superior Court. The lawsuit claims that by allowing paid members to solicit other members for sex, the online dating service is little more than a pre-paid prostitution ring.
The company, which conducts extensive personality profiling before introducing couples with matching values and interests, denied the allegation.
"It is absolutely outrageous that anyone would sign up and pay to be solicited for sex through a dating service," Mr. George said in a statement. "I have been an eDateMe member for years and I have never once been asked to have sex. I am an eDateMe member because I enjoy long, endless chat sessions with someone who is willing to talk to anyone about anything."
Mr. George also offers his services as a male baggage carrier; a new feature just recently added as a service by eDateMe.
The lawsuit names Pasadena-based eDateMe, company founder Clark Warren Neil and his wife Marylyn, the company's former vice president, as defendants. It seeks class-action status, a jury trial and unspecified damages.
Neil is a clinical psychologist who has written several books about dating and is well known for all his baggage.
