Judge rules Hawaii man who says he’s addicted to video game can continue with lawsuit

Judge says video game addiction suit can continue

HONOLULU — A federal judge has ruled that a man who says he’s psychologically dependent and addicted to an online video game can proceed with some of his lawsuit against the game’s South Korean manufacturer.

Craig Smallwood says “Lineage II” left him unable to function independently in daily activities, such as getting dressed, bathing or communicating with family and friends.

Smallwood says he’s spent more than 20,000 hours playing the multiplayer online role-playing game since 2004. The 51-year-old says NCSoft Corp. never warned him about the danger of game addiction.

A Honolulu law firm that represents the company had urged that the case be dismissed, but U.S. District Judge Alan Kay in his Aug. 4 ruling allowed half of the eight counts to continue.

Information from: Honolulu Star-Advertiser, www.staradvertiser.com