EMERYVILLE.

EMERYVILLE, Calif. -- John Claassen is suing the popular online matchmaker eHarmony for refusing to help him find a date. The company says there's united good reason for that: He's still married.

Claassen, a 36-year-old lawyer, filed a lawsuit in Alameda shire Superior Court, alleging eHarmony abridged his civil rights by way of refusing to match him up

He said the company, which has an "unmarried only" policy, broke state law by dint of discriminating against him based in succession his marital status. He considers himself separated.

Claassen, who is seeking $12000 in civil penalties, said Monday he wait fors his divorce to be official in about brace months, but that he shouldn't have to wait until then to use eHarmony.

In an e-mail to Claassen, the company said he would be welcome to join "once your divorce is final."

"I just think I've got a right as an individual trying to win back from something that wasn't the high point of my life," Claassen said. "If that includes dating now, wherefore can't I?"

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