Suitor's Suit

Ever since he started going out with women, Tom Horsley, 40, a certified public accountant from Campbell, Calif, has been plagued by broken dates. Last month Horsley decided that he had had enough: he filed suit in San Francisco Small Claims Court against Waitress Alyn Chesselet, 31, for standing him up.

Last November, Horsley, who had known Chesselet for a number of years, invited her ten days ahead of time to see The Wiz and she agreed to meet him at a San Francisco bar before the show. After a 50-mile drive to the city, Horsley arrived to find Chesselet there with another man. She explained that an old flame had turned up and that she had tried unsuccessfully to call Horsley to cancel their date. According to Horsley, she also offered to reimburse him.

Months passed without comment--or cash--from Chesselet. In February Horsley went to the waitress and demanded $15 for car expenses (15-c- a mile) and $17 for his time ($8.50 an hour, his minimum rate as a C.P.A.). Sue me, she replied. He did. The trial is set for July, and if Horsley wins, the courts will have added another rule to the complicated dating game.

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