Woman sues dating agency

Darlene Daggette sued the company, Kelleher International, which promised ideal matches from around the globe. Photo / 123RF

Darlene Daggett had high hopes of finding her ideal partner when she took out a "CEO level" membership with an exclusive dating service.

She spent US$150,000 ($205,880) only to be sorely disappointed. So she sued the company, Kelleher International, which promised ideal matches from around the globe.

Daggett, a 62-year-old divorced mother of four, turned to the service, court documents say, because regular online dating sites "did not provide the degree of screening and privacy she was looking for".

Instead, she was introduced to a procession of incompatible suitors, she told the court last week.

One candidate, an Australian entrepreneur, whisked her away to Panama and Costa Rica but embarked on a trip around the world with his former partner the day after returning from a trip with Daggett.

Daggett was introduced to an executive with a Fortune 500 company who ended their relationship without explanation, having spent Christmas and Thanksgiving with her.

Another man said he was waiting for his terminally ill wife to die before he could commit.

Daggett pursued a stalking complaint against another.

Daggett, who reached a settlement with the agency, said she had hoped to find someone to spend her retirement with.

Amber Kelleher-Andrews, the agency's chief executive, defended her company, which she said had been responsible for thousands of marriages. The company worked to end courtships reasonably, she said. "It doesn't always work out."