Finding your perfect match can be tricky, and one New York woman found out the hard way that even money can’t buy love.
Audrey Ruden, 61, is suing New York City matchmaker Richard Easton for not delivering on his promise to find her a husband, after she paid him $100,000.
Ruden, a successful real estate broker, paid Easton $100,000 in May for the promise of 15 quality introductions within 13 months. She claims Easton’s website promised compatible men who were marriage material, but this was not her experience.
“These claims are patently false,” the Manhattan Supreme Court lawsuit charged. “Defendant made two matches which wholly and categorically disregarded plaintiff’s stated desires.”
Ruden went on two dates, both of whom were only interested in a casual fling, not at all marriage material. One date even told her specifically that he was not interested in marriage, and questioned Ruden’s own interest.
“The second introduction was to a man who declared on the date that he was not interested in marriage and even asked plaintiff why she was pursuing marriage,” the suit claims.
When Ruden tried to register her complaints to Easton, he turned nasty, before ignoring her completely.
“Easton belittled her in a condescending and sarcastic manner,” the suit charges. “Defendant became unresponsive to emails and voicemails and was generally unavailable thereafter.”
Under New York State law, any dating service that charges more than $25 must provide a minimum number of referrals per month, and if this minimum is not met, the client is entitled to cancel the contract for a full refund, minus a cancellation fee.
With an average of 180 marriages per day in NYC, it shouldn’t be so hard to find love in the city, but unfortunately, as more and more people turn to online dating and matchmaking, more people are being left unsatisfied with the results.
In 2012, New Jersey resident Jeanne McCarthy paid $7,000 to a matchmaking service, yet went on only one date, with a man with three drunk-driving convictions, and an outstanding criminal warrant.
McCarthy sued for breach of contract, fraud, and consumer fraud, requesting her money back in addition to unspecified punitive damages.
As for Mr. Easton, this is not the only lawsuit he’s currently contending with. Earlier this month, his landlord sued him for a whole host of offenses stemming from Easton’s deranged antics in and around his posh West Village condo.
Since Easton runs his business out of his home, he may have to put business on hold if he is evicted.