A lawyer who claims that his addiction to video games caused him to botch the handling of 17 cases has been suspended from practicing law for three years by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

Matthew J. Eshelman, 43, of Carlisle, Pa., testified before the Disciplinary Board “that when he experienced problems, he lost focus on his legal work and diverted his attention to electronic recreation,” according to the board’s 89-page report and recommendation.