Family files lawsuit against gaming industry

JONESBORO — A Northeast Arkansas family is blaming the computer gaming industry for addicting children and ruining their lives.

The case was filed Monday by a Mississippi County parent in the U.S. District Court for Eastern Arkansas, Northern Division in Jonesboro.

Kushanel Donerson is the plaintiff, filing on behalf of her 14-year-old child identified only as J.D.

It’s one of at least three lawsuits filed against the electronic gaming industry that have been assigned to U.S.

District Judge D.P. Marshall Jr. Two others were filed last fall, naming the developers and marketers of major game systems, such as Sony PlayStation, Microsoft, Epic Games, Rockstar Games and others.

The lawsuits claim the software developers intentionally design the games to cause them to become addicted, and cause them to spend money they don’t have to continue playing.

“As a result of the gaming addiction and harm proximately caused by Defendants’ misconduct, J.D. requires treatment, including out-patient counseling and an individualized educational plan (IEP) that includes homeschooling,” Donerson’s suit contends. She said her child began playing video games at age 5. “J.D. specifically plays Fortnite, Call of Duty Warzone, NBA 2K, Roblox, and Grand Theft Auto V.”

The lawsuit contends that the child has experienced brain damage, a stroke, seizures, high blood pressure, severe emotional distress, diminished social interactions, loss of friends, inability to learn and function in an educational setting, and withdrawal symptoms such as rage, anger, and physical outbursts. J.D. Now requires treatment, including out-patient counseling and an individualized educational plan (IEP) that includes homeschooling.

The parents of a Poinsett County adolescent described similar outcomes in their October lawsuit.

Donelson’s complaint this week, filed on her behalf by the Gates Law Firm of Little Rock, said the gaming industry has even infiltrated schools with its marketing.

“Epic Games touts its game as ‘educational’ and markets it for use in the classroom, including but not limited to offering ‘Free Fortnite lesson plans’ to educators on subjects ranging from history, geography, and programming,” according to Donelson’s complaint. “Engaging- and addicting-children early and in environments such as their classroom serves only to increase Epic Games’s revenue through continued play of young users, at the expense of these users’ mental and physical health.” The lawsuit said health professionals have only recognized the impact of gaming addiction as a source of their

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patients’ conditions, particularly among minors, young adults and neurodivergent individuals.

The defendants have filed motions to force the parents in the lawsuits filed earlier to submit to arbitration outside of court.

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‘TOTALITY’ documentary to explore eclipse arc across Arkansas

CONWAY — ArkansasIDEAS, a partnership between Arkansas PBS and the Arkansas Department of Education’s Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), will present: “TOTALITY: Live Eclipse Event Across Arkansas” Monday, April 8, beginning at 1 p.m. on Arkansas PBS and at myarpbs.org/eclipse. This live event will be the only one of its kind to follow the total solar eclipse across Arkansas, beginning with community gatherings and continuing through the full 12-minute arc across the state.

To encourage and support learning, the Arkansas Department of Education’s Division of Elementary and Secondary Education is pleased to share helpful information and resources, including a link to an interactive solar eclipse map.

Be sure to visit DESE’s eclipse page often, as new events and opportunities are added each week.

According to NASA, a total solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the sun. As the Great North American Eclipse of 2024 – a monumental celestial event more than 100 years in the making – spans a complete arc across Arkansas, viewers worldwide will be able to watch via livestream.

Communities, schools and families – both inside and outside the path of totality – will have an exclusive front row seat for this rare occasion. Production teams positioned in De Queen, Russellville, Jonesboro and on Petit Jean Mountain will provide insights from esteemed national and local physics and astronomy experts, as well as reactions from community members and visitors to the state. Former KATV anchor Chris Kane will host the hourlong event.