A California woman has sued Match.com, saying she was raped by a sexual predator she met on the popular dating website.
The woman says the alleged attacker previously faced sex crime charges, and the website could have prevented the assault with proper screening of members, according to the lawsuit filed Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court.
Her attorney, Mark L. Webb, described his client as an entertainment exec and Ivy League grad. She was identified in court documents only as Jane Doe.
He is asking for a temporary injunction prohibiting Match.com from signing on more members until the site promises to screen its clients for sexual predators.
The woman was allegedly raped in her home by Alan Paul Wurtzel after the two went on their second date at a café in West Hollywood last year. She said after the date he followed her home and forced himself on her.
Alan Paul Wurtzel
The man's attorney, Sharron Morris, described the incident as "a consenting sexual encounter."
Wurtzel was previously charged with two felony sexual assault counts in Los Angeles last year. He pleaded not guilty, and the case's next court date is April 26.
Robert Platt, an attorney for Match.com said the company is not responsible and shouldn't be expected to screen all its users.
"Then you'd have to ask for people's social security numbers, which they don't want to do. And of course you'd have to pass on the cost to the consumer of doing this," he said.
Platt pointed to a stipulation on the website saying the company is not liable for such situations.
"It lets people know that they're not providing this service and people use it at their own risk," said Platt.
In February, the dating website received negative press when jilted ex-boyfriend, Wade Ridley, was taken into police custody in Las Vegas on suspicion that he murdered and attempted to murder two women he met on Match.com
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