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Woman Sues Match.com Over Sex Assault

Attacker had history of attacks, victim demands Match.com screening

By Mary Papenfuss, Newser Staff

Posted Apr 14, 2011 4:05 AM CDT

(Newser) – A Los Angeles entertainment executive is suing an online dating site for failing to screen out a man who she says sexually assaulted her. The woman is seeking an injunction barring Match.com from signing members until it begins a process to filter out sex predators like her alleged attacker, who has a history of conviction for sexual battery, said her attorney. Match.com is "a very powerful and successful online dating service, and they have the means to do this,” the lawyer told the Los Angeles Times. Match.com officials said they provide safety tips on the website, and warn members that clients are responsible for screening their dates.

In the LA executive's second date with a man she met on the site, he allegedly followed her home and attacked her. "This horrific ordeal completely blindsided me because I had considered myself savvy about online dating safety," the woman said in a statement. "Things quickly turned into a nightmare, beyond my control." She was stunned to discover in a subsequent Web search that the man had been convicted of several counts of sexual battery.

The victim was stunned to learn on the Internet that her attacker had a history of sexual battery. (?alancleaver_2000)

In this screen shot, the match.com home page is shown. (AP Photo/match.com)

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Woman Sues Match.com Over Sex Assault

Attacker had history of attacks, victim demands Match.com screening

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