A California lawyer legally separated from his wife has filed suit against an online dating service claiming discrimination because of his marital status.

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John Claassen tried to register with eHarmony but was turned down when he truthfully listed his marital status.

"Most people don't file a suit to get a date," Claassen told the San Jose Mercury News. "If I had my druthers, I'd be divorced by now."

The dating service says it has a simple rule -- everyone seeking its help must be legally free of entangling alliances.

"We have to create rules based on what's best for most people, most of the time," a customer service representative told Claassen in an e-mail, adding he would be welcome to register once his divorce is final.

Claassen claims that eHarmony, which is based in Pasadena, violated California law by discriminating against him. He's also ticked off because he only learned that his marital status was a problem after he spent two hours filling out his eHarmony profile.