Melbourne uni student sues tram company after being pinned down

A Melbourne university student is suing the city's tram operator, claiming he was pinned down by ticket inspectors who used excessive force.

Michael Lui, 23, alleges he was thrown to the ground by a number of ticket inspectors at a CBD tram stop in 2013 and that one of them put a knee across his throat.

He has filed a writ with the Supreme Court of Victoria, suing Yarra Trams for assault as well as allegedly using excessive physical force.

Mr Lui's lawyer Dimi Ioannou, of Maurice Blackburn, says Mr Lui now suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety.

"As a result of this incident, the plaintiff has suffered, and will continue to suffer, injury, loss and damage," she said in a statement on Monday.

Maurice Blackburn says another commuter filmed the alleged incident on a mobile phone.